Visa setback delays South Africa's departure for World Cup training camp

By Maxwell Kumoye 
 
 
 

South Africa's preparations for the upcoming FIFA World Cup have suffered an unexpected setback after visa complications forced the team to postpone its departure for a pre-tournament training camp in Mexico.

The squad, popularly known as Bafana Bafana, was scheduled to leave Johannesburg on Sunday aboard a chartered flight to Mexico City. 

However, the South African Football Association (SAFA) confirmed that visa-related issues affecting several players and officials disrupted the travel plans.

In a statement released on Sunday, SAFA revealed that the delegation had encountered challenges in securing the necessary travel documents, although the exact number of affected personnel was not disclosed.

"SAFA is working around the clock to ensure that the team travels to Mexico City as soon as possible," the federation said, adding that an emergency meeting had been convened to address the situation.

According to reports from state broadcaster SABC, visas for at least 20 members of the travelling party were still being processed at the United States Embassy in Johannesburg, creating uncertainty over the team's immediate travel arrangements.

The development has drawn strong criticism from South Africa's Minister of Sports, Gayton McKenzie, who described the situation as both embarrassing and unfair to the players and coaching staff.

"The travel and visa debacle is embarrassing and grossly unfair towards the players and coaching staff," McKenzie wrote on X. "We are being made to look like fools."

The delay comes at a crucial stage of South Africa's World Cup preparations. Returning to football's biggest stage for the first time in 16 years, Bafana Bafana has been drawn in a challenging Group A alongside co-hosts Mexico, the Czech Republic and South Korea.

South Africa is scheduled to open their campaign against Mexico on June 11 before facing the Czech Republic and South Korea in their remaining group-stage fixtures.

The team heads into the tournament seeking improved form after being held to a goalless draw by Nicaragua in an international friendly played in Soweto on Friday. 

They are also expected to face Jamaica in another warm-up match on June 5 as preparations continue for the global showpiece.

For now, however, SAFA's immediate focus remains resolving the visa issues and ensuring the squad arrives in Mexico with enough time to complete its final phase of preparations ahead of the World Cup.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Olukismet FC pens monumental deal with Hungarian top-tier side Kisvarda

Image
By Mishael Emmanuel    Ekiti State based Nigerian club Olukismet Football Club has signed a historic partnership deal with Hungarian top-flight outfit Kisvarda FC, as the Kisvarda based side looks to collaborate on players discovery, development and exposure to top levels of European and world football. The momentous partnership comes from the boots of talented midfielder prodigy, Ridwan Abdulrazak, who paved the way with a host of outstanding performances in Hungarian football circuit. Abdulrazak was previously scouted from Olukismet Football Club.   Following a strategic partnership meeting held in Lagos, last week, the President of Kisvarda FC, Revesz Atilla Utja, Portuguese FIFA football agent, Andre Cabete Portulez and Prince Olumide Fetus Adegboye graced Top Level Football Agency's football scouting tournament held over the weekend in the 'City of Excellence and Aquatic Splendor', in search for exceptional footballing talents in the mould of renowned Nig...
Read more

Hammer thrower Falana vows to rule Africa

Image
 By Mishael Emmanuel         Gabon’s national hammer record holder, Kenza Falana, is certain that her time to rule the spotlight and make headlines is now. It’s a medal within reach for the young Gabonese hammer thrower who was selected to represent her country at the CAA U-18/20 Championship, holding in Abeokuta, Ogun State, South-West, Nigeria. The 18-year-old who broke into the international stage a year ago at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, added that she is looking to revive the spirit of unity, commitment and collaboration — to back rising athletes in Africa. Speaking before silver-finish at the biennial championship, Falana said she was ready to rule the continent as soon as possible. She said: “I think it finally my chance with what I’m doing this Championships. I’ve been thinking of it this past year, thinking it would be such an opportunity to travel to Nigeria and even win a gold medal,” Falana stated in an interview with First ZealMe...
Read more

Experience, effort — Edo State's rise to Table Tennis success, Coach Goriola Olayiwola Wahab

Image
...Secures 13 medals as table tennis event comes to an end By Oluwatobiloba Zeal-Adepetu Kumoye in Abuja           From grass to grace, this is the inside story of Team Edo State's rise in table tennis, the once uneducated side powered by eagerness is now a consistent medal winner for the Heartbeat State. These are the words of the head coach of Team Edo table tennis, Goriola Olayiwola Wahab in an exclusive interview with FIRST ZEALMEDIACAST BLOG's Oluwatobiloba Zeal-Adepetu Kumoye at the ongoing National Para Games in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory. Coach Wahab, fond called Mr. Consistent, led Team Edo to secure 13 medals Games, 4 gold, 3 silver and 6 bronze medals. For coach Wahab in the Table Tennis coaching business it all began 1991, in Bauchi, when he teaching special athletes the games of pingpong. He then started working with the Spinal Cord Injury Association of Nigeria to help educate and train more athletes. “I started coac...
Read more