Bafana coach facing pay cut after surprise proposal from desperate SAFA

SAFA is in the spotlight again following reports of a proposal to slash salaries of its top earners among them Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos.

Reports on Monday say the SAFA Executive Committee (NEC) reached the decision following a meeting in Mbombela last week in a bid to save costs as the football body is in a deep financial hole.

As per Soccer Laduma, SAFA is proposing a pay cut of between five and 25 per cent for those earning R600,000 and above per year with coach Broos, who is reportedly on R1 million per month, among those targeted.

The proposal has received widespread condemnation from fans as Broos has just led Bafana Bafana to the 2026 World Cup despite a three-point deduction imposed by FIFA just before the final two qualification games.

SAFA’s bloated NEC blames for financial woes

Broos also led the national team to third place at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations before qualifying for the 2025 tournament with a squad made up of local-based players.

However, SAFA is believed to be facing massive financial challenges and feels slashing the salaries will give them some breathing space.

“The people earning the most are the ones most angry about the cuts. But the truth is, SAFA is in trouble. This is about survival now,” a source at SAFA told Soccer Laduma.

However, most of SAFA’s problems are believed to be of their own making as they have a bloated NEC of 40 members and have refused to reduce the number even after an advice from FIFA in 2013.

Jordaan-led association living beyond its means

The large number of officials has seen them draw huge perks which have contributed to their financial problems with Broos and his players having to deal with salary delays in recent months, necessitating the intervention of Sports Minister Gayton McKenzie.

“SAFA has been living beyond its means. Until there’s real reform, fewer executives, more accountability, and less waste, this will keep happening,” another source told the outlet.

The Danny Jordaan-led SAFA has been in the spotlight for their spending and was slammed in 2022 for paying out over R20.8 million in backdated honorariums to its 40-member NEC, averaging about R400,000 per person.

It remains to be seen if SAFA will make headway over the proposal given Broos has become a popular figure among fans and has a contract up to June 2026.