The South African national team left Johannesburg on Monday to join their 2026 World Cup preparation camp in Mexico, but without their assistant coach, Helman Mkhalele, who is still stuck due to a US visa issue.
The departure of Bafana Bafana was marred by several administrative setbacks. Initially scheduled for Sunday, the South African delegation ultimately left the country 24 hours late after difficulties obtaining visas, a situation the South African Football Association described as an administrative error.
Former South African international Helman Mkhalele, with 66 caps and a member of the squad that participated in the country's first-ever World Cup in 1998 in France, will have to join the group at a later date. His visa application was initially refused, without any official explanation from the US consular authorities.
The president of the South African Football Association, Danny Jordaan, stated that the US consulate in Johannesburg rejected the application without providing a reason. He said this lack of information significantly complicates efforts to resolve the issue.
Despite these difficulties, South Africa's coach, Hugo Broos, indicated that his team was relieved to have finally been able to travel to Mexico. He stated that the players were now focused on their physical preparation after several days of uncertainty.
Before their opening match in the competition, South Africa will play a friendly against Jamaica. The South Africans will then compete in Group A of the World Cup, where they will face, among others, the host country, Mexico, as well as the Czech Republic and South Korea.
Bafana Bafana's first match is scheduled for June 11 against Mexico. Team officials are now hoping that their assistant coach's situation will be resolved quickly so he can join the squad before the start of the tournament.
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