SAFA CEO Lydia Monyepao has explanation the challenge in taking Bafana Bafana matches out of the Gauteng province to other parts of the country.
South African supporters were embarrassingly outnumbered and outsang by the opposition supporters at Orlando Stadium when Bafana Bafana recorded a hard-fought 1-0 victory over DR Congo.
READ | 'I had a feeling we played outside' - Broos disappointed with attendance
Head coach Hugo Broos voiced their disappointment after the match on the poor attendance from South Africans, while the scenes fueled more calls from Bafana matches to be taken out of the Gauteng province.
"First of all, I had the feeling it's an away game today (Tuesday). It's a little bit disappointing that again when you see today the stadium there were more supporters from Congo than for us," Broos said after the match.
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"You see today also when you have the fans behind you what that can give. Congo believed even more, they grew in the game, they were supported.
"We have some very difficult moments and then you need them (Supporters). Again they were not there or not enough."
I'm honestly disappointed with Gauteng, we couldn't sell out two games of Bafana Bafana at Orlando Stadium. SAFA should give other provinces a chance to host Bafana Bafana matches. pic.twitter.com/RvBTcF8kHL
— Cellular® (@Cellular_jnr) September 12, 2023
Ay bandla…South African ???? fans currently outnumbered at Orlando Stadium as the National anthems are sang??
— Siya Ndlela (@siya_ndlela1) September 12, 2023
The Democratic Congolese are in full voice????
17:00 Bafana take on DRC pic.twitter.com/cj6zdDnytR
The association has also come under intense scrutiny from spectators over failure to take both Bafana and Banyana matches to cities outside of Gauteng despite obvious struggles in attracting supporters in Gauteng, SAFA reportedly sold an embarrassing 168 tickets for encounter against Sierra Leone at FNB Stadium in September last year.
In response, Monyepao said that efforts have long been made to take Bafana matches out of the province.
"We had approached a number of cities for this game (DR Congo), but Cape Town told us the stadium was undergoing renovations, and Durban had other commitments. The other provinces didn't come back to us even though they always say they want to host," Monyepao told Radio2000 on Wednesday.
"But we need a letter of commitment because there are costs and they double when you leave Gauteng. So we had to make a call and fortunately, Gauteng was available again."
"The reason we need them to partner is to cover costs which are mainly flights, accommodation, and stadium hire.
"So, when we approach a municipality to host, the minimum is that they must cover these costs and most provinces own the stadiums. We are not looking for money for us."
Bafana will return to action with a clash against Eswatini on 13 October.
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