South Africa’s national football team has departed for its World Cup training base in Pachuca, Mexico, ahead of its opening match against co-hosts Mexico on Ju...
South Africa’s national football team has departed for its World Cup training base in Pachuca, Mexico, ahead of its opening match against co-hosts Mexico on June 11, despite travel disruptions caused by visa delays affecting part of the delegation.
The delegation left Johannesburg on a charter flight on Monday after spending an additional day in South Africa due to delays in obtaining travel visas. The squad had originally been scheduled to depart on Sunday, but the trip was postponed following what the South African Football Association (SAFA) described as an administrative issue involving visa processing.
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Assistant coach Helman Mkhalele was not among those who travelled with the team. Mkhalele has not yet secured a United States visa after his application was initially denied, forcing him to remain in South Africa while efforts continue to resolve the matter.
Mkhalele is a former South African international winger who earned 66 caps for Bafana Bafana. He was also part of the South African squad that competed at the country’s first FIFA World Cup appearance in France in 1998.
SAFA president Danny Jordaan said the association was still seeking clarity regarding the visa decision. Speaking to the South African Broadcasting Corporation, Jordaan said the United States Consulate General in Johannesburg had declined the visa application without providing reasons.
“They refused the visa, but gave no reasons. It is very difficult to deal with the process where you get no information,” Jordaan said.
He added that SAFA remained uncertain about the reasons behind the decision but hoped the matter would be resolved quickly. “We don’t know why it was denied, we are clutching in the dark, but we hope the matter will be resolved soon. All of the players are on the flight and 99 percent of the technical staff,” he said.
Despite the setback, South Africa head coach Hugo Broos expressed relief that the team was finally able to leave for Mexico. He acknowledged that the days leading up to the departure had been difficult because of the travel complications and uncertainty surrounding the visa process.
“Now we are very happy that we can go to Mexico,” Broos said. “The past days have been a little bit stressful with all the problems we had, but those problems are behind us now, and we can focus on what’s coming.”
Broos said the team would immediately begin preparations upon arrival in Mexico. South Africa is scheduled to play Jamaica in an international friendly on Friday before facing Mexico in the opening match of the tournament in Mexico City. He said the remaining days before the competition would pass quickly as the squad concentrates on training and tactical preparations.
“These 10 days go very fast. Once we get there, we will start working, focusing on the first game against Mexico, so time will pass very quickly. I think everybody is looking forward to starting the World Cup,” Broos said.
South Africa has been drawn in Group A of the World Cup. Following the opening match against Mexico, the team will face Czechia in Atlanta on June 18 before taking on South Korea in Monterrey, Mexico, six days later. The tournament marks South Africa’s fourth World Cup appearance, and the team will be aiming to advance beyond the group stage for the first time in its history.
