(REUTERS) – South Africa’s goal-shy team have been offered one million rand ($132 200) to share for every time they find the net at next month’s World Cup on home soil, a senior official said yesterday.
“We want our team to play with pride and passion, we want to inspire them,” Football Association chief executive officer Leslie Sedibe told South African television yesterday.
Sedibe, though, said the FA still had to conclude negotiations over a general payment and bonus structure for the finals.
He plans talks with a six-man players’ committee headed by captain Aaron Mokoena before finalising details by May 31.
“It won’t be a blank cheque,” said Sedibe.
The issue of player payments is traditionally contentious in South Africa where there have often been threatened strikes by squad members not happy with cash offered.
South Africa average just over 1.1 goals per game in 250 internationals since returning to world competition in 1992. They have netted just 32 times in 34 matches in the last two years.