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South Africa’s World Cup delegation departs for Mexico without coach
TL;DR
South Africa's national team has departed for their World Cup training base in Mexico, but assistant coach Helman Mkhalele is absent due to a visa issue. The South African Football Association attributed the delay to an administrative error.
Key points
- South Africa's national team left for World Cup training in Mexico
- Assistant coach Helman Mkhalele did not board due to visa issues
- Visa delays were attributed to an administrative error by SAFA
Mentioned in this story
Helman MkhaleleMexico
World CupSouth Africa
The South African national team members have left for their World Cup training base in Pachuca, Mexico, in advance of their opening game against the tournament cohosts on June 11.
The delegation that left on Monday did not include assistant coach Helman Mkhalele, who has yet to obtain a United States visa.
The charter flight departed Johannesburg following a frantic 24 hours after the squad was originally scheduled to leave on Sunday, but was held back by a delay in obtaining visas in what was described as an administrative bungle by the South African Football Association (SAFA).
Mkhalele, a former international winger who played 66 times for Bafana Bafana, including at their World Cup debut in France in 1998, will have to travel later after his visa application was initially denied.
Blaming the US Consulate General in Johannesburg for the delay, SAFA president Danny Jordaan told the South African Broadcasting Corporation, “They refused the visa, but gave no reasons. It is very difficult to deal with the process where you get no information.”
“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.”
South Africa are due to play Jamaica in a friendly on Friday before taking on Mexico in the showpiece opening match in Mexico City.
“Now we are very happy that we can go to Mexico,” South Africa coach Hugo 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.”
“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.”
South Africa are in Group A and will face Czechia in Atlanta on June 18 and South Korea in Monterrey, Mexico, six days later.
They are appearing in their fourth World Cup and looking to advance from the group stage for the first time.
Q&A
Why did South Africa's assistant coach Helman Mkhalele miss the World Cup flight?
Helman Mkhalele missed the flight because he has not yet obtained a United States visa.
What caused the delay in South Africa's World Cup team departure?
The team's departure was delayed due to issues with obtaining visas, which the South African Football Association described as an administrative bungle.
When does South Africa's national team play their opening World Cup match?
South Africa's national team plays their opening World Cup match against the cohosts on June 11.
