JOHANNESBURG — South Africa’s World Cup squad will go away for the match on Monday after issues with journey visas delayed their departure, the nationwide soccer body mentioned.
South Africa performs co-host Mexico within the opening recreation of the World Cup on June 11 in Mexico Metropolis. It performs one in every of its group video games within the U.S.
The South African staff was resulting from depart Sunday however had not secured visas for the U.S. for some gamers and backroom employees members, the sports activities minister mentioned.
Sports activities Minister Gayton McKenzie posted on X that the “debacle” over visas was brought on by an administrative error by staff officers and known as it embarrassing. He demanded a report from the South African Soccer Affiliation.
“We’re being made to appear like fools,” McKenzie wrote on social media.
The affiliation mentioned Monday that it had now secured visas for all of the gamers, although 4 employees members nonetheless did not have visas. They have been an assistant coach, the staff physician, the top of safety and an analyst, McKenzie mentioned.
The soccer federation mentioned it hoped their journey paperwork can be finalized in time for them to additionally board the constitution flight in Johannesburg on Monday. It held an emergency assembly on Sunday night time, it mentioned.
The federation apologized for the delay and mentioned it had acquired assist from the South African International Ministry and the U.S. Consulate in Johannesburg to resolve the issues.
South Africa’s staff administration got here underneath scrutiny in World Cup qualifying after midfielder Teboho Mokoena performed in a recreation towards Lesotho regardless of being suspended. South Africa was stripped of its victory, threatening its hopes of qualifying.
The staff overcame that to qualify prime of its group by one level.
South Africa will play on the World Cup for the primary time since internet hosting in 2010. It additionally faces the Czech Republic in Atlanta and South Korea in Monterrey, Mexico, in Group A.
Source link
#South #Africa #soccer #body #World #Cup #squad #depart #Monday #visa #delay
