SAFA problems at their highest

SportsBurg

@sports_burg

The quote “There’s always light at the end of the tunnel” seems a bit farfetched when it comes to South African Football Association (SAFA) and Bafana Bafana. They really cannot catch a break.

After claims that SAFA could be implicated in a match-fixing scandal, two of Bafana big sponsors Absa and Puma have announced termination of their sponsorship contracts with the national team.

Puma has decided to terminate after claims of SAFA being implicated in a match-fixing scandal in the 2010 World Cup. It is reported that SAFA bribed referees who were adjudicating Bafana’s warm-up matches.

"Puma can confirm (we) exercised the right to terminate (our) technical and licensed partnership with the South African Football Association. Following match-fixing allegations made against Safa, along with inappropriate responses from within the football organisation (including the suspension of senior officials), Puma terminated the contract with immediate effect,” quoted IOL.

This comes after Absa also announced on Tuesday that they will not be renewing their sponsorship with Bafana when it comes to an end in December 2013.

“Absa confirms (we) will conclude (our) sponsorship of the South Africa national soccer team, better known as Bafana Bafana, when the current agreement with the South African Football Association expires at the end of 2013. This follows a review of Absa’s business and brand objectives.”

With two of SAFA’s biggest sponsors pulling the plug it only remains a mystery which gear Bafana will be wearing come next year.

Experts say that SAFA can use the money obtained during the 2010 World Cup in the meantime while waiting for another sponsor to come up.