JOHANNESBURG, South Africa — Amidst the visa delay chaos, the South African national men’s soccer team, Bafana Bafana, is set to depart for the FIFA World Cup on a special chartered flight following the resolution of visa issues. Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture, Gayton McKenzie, confirmed the departure on Monday, noting that all players have received their travel visas.
The team’s preparations for the tournament were disrupted when their departure to Mexico was delayed due to visa complications, leaving several players and officials stranded in Johannesburg mere days before the competition commenced. McKenzie has expressed his dissatisfaction with the situation, labeling it an embarrassment and demanding accountability from the South African Football Association (Safa). Echoing McKenzie’s sentiments, his deputy, Peace Mabe, also criticized the handling of the matter.
The delay has raised questions about Safa’s administrative capabilities and the impact on the team’s morale and performance at the World Cup.
*Additional reporting by ImNews | Sources consulted: 5*
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This original article was produced by the ImNews editorial team
Source: enca
Source: Nokuthula Khanyile
