Sponsorship broker sues Safa for R5.4m in unpaid fees

Agency says it secured financial backing for Safa

- By Ngwako Malatji

The South African Football Association (Safa) has allegedly failed or refused to pay an agency that secured Hollywoodbets to sponsor its national women's league.

The association has also allegedly failed or refused to pay SS Network for procuring a broadcasting rights deal with the SABC and SuperSport.

Safa owes SS Network more than R5-million, and the agency has now dragged the association to Johannesburg High Court to force it to pay the money.

The agency also wants to plunge Safa deep into a financial cesspool for its tardiness, as it is pleading with the court to grant it an order to force the association to pay its legal costs.

In the court papers seen by Sunday World, the agency stated that Safa, represented by Tebogo Motlanthe, appointed it as its preferred broadcast and sponsorship agent on an exclusive and non-exclusive basis for five years commencing from October 1, 2020.

Safa agreed to give SS Network the exclusive mandate to negotiate and procure broadcast rights contracts with local and international broadcasters.

The Danny Jordaan-led organisation agreed to give the agency the non-exclusive right to negotiate and procure sponsorship opportunities for Safa.