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Visa Woes Delay South Africa's World Cup Journey
31 May
Summary
- South Africa's World Cup team delayed due to visa problems.
- Visas for at least 20 squad members still being processed.
- Sports Minister demands explanations for the 'mess'.
South Africa's national football team, set to compete in the World Cup, has experienced a significant delay in their departure. Their travel plans were disrupted due to ongoing visa problems affecting some players and officials.
The squad was scheduled to leave Johannesburg on Sunday for a preparatory training camp in Mexico. However, complications with visa processing have halted their journey.
SAFA, the national football association, is working diligently to resolve the issue and ensure the team can travel to Mexico City as soon as possible. An emergency meeting was scheduled for Sunday evening to address the situation.
According to reports, visas for at least 20 members of the traveling contingent remained unprocessed at the United States embassy in Johannesburg. This delay has caused considerable frustration, with the Sports Minister demanding an explanation and condemning the situation as embarrassing and unfair to the players and staff.
South Africa, known as Bafana Bafana, is participating in the global showpiece after a 16-year absence. They are grouped with co-hosts Mexico, the Czech Republic, and South Korea, with their opening match against Mexico scheduled for June 11.
