South Africa’s national soccer team is set to depart for the World Cup after resolving travel visa issues that delayed their initial plans. The team will leave on Monday, just in time to prepare for their opening match against co-host Mexico on June 11 in Mexico City. The team also has a group game scheduled in the United States.
Visa Delays and Resolution
The squad was originally scheduled to depart on Sunday, but encountered delays due to some players and backroom staff not securing U.S. visas. South Africa’s Sports Minister Gayton McKenzie attributed the delay to an administrative error by team officials, calling the situation embarrassing and demanding a report from the South African Football Association.
Minister McKenzie expressed his frustration on social media, stating, “We are being made to look like fools.” Despite the setback, the soccer association confirmed on Monday that all players have now secured their visas. However, four staff members, including an assistant coach, the team doctor, the head of security, and an analyst, are still awaiting their travel documents. The association hopes these will be finalized in time for the staff to join the charter flight from Johannesburg.
Assistance and Apologies
The South African Football Association held an emergency meeting on Sunday night to address the issue. They have since apologized for the delay and acknowledged the assistance received from the South African Foreign Ministry and the U.S. Consulate in Johannesburg in resolving the visa problems.
This is not the first time the team’s management has faced scrutiny. During World Cup qualifying, South Africa was stripped of a victory after midfielder Teboho Mokoena played in a match despite being suspended. Despite this setback, the team managed to qualify for the World Cup, topping their group by one point.
Upcoming Matches
South Africa will be participating in the World Cup for the first time since hosting the tournament in 2010. In addition to their match against Mexico, they will face the Czech Republic in Atlanta and South Korea in Monterrey, Mexico, as part of Group A.
Original reporting: KTVB (Boise metro) — read the source article.
