Members of the South Africa national team left Johannesburg for their training base in Pachuca, Mexico, ahead of their opening match against co-host Mexico on June 11. The chartered flight departed on Monday, a day later than planned because of delays in visa issuance, which the South African Football Association (SAFA) described as an administrative hiccup.
Assistant coach Helman Mkhalele was not part of the delegation after failing to secure a U.S. visa. The former striker, who earned 66 caps including at South Africa's first World Cup in France in 1998, will have to travel later after his visa application was initially rejected.
SAFA President Danny Jordaan criticized the U.S. Consulate in Johannesburg for the delay. He told South African radio: "They rejected the visa but gave no reason. It is difficult to work when you receive no information. We do not know why it was rejected, we are groping in the dark, but we hope the issue will be resolved soon. All the players boarded the plane, along with 99% of the technical team."
South Africa will play a friendly against Jamaica on Friday before facing Mexico in the opening match at Mexico City. Head Coach Hugo Broos said: "We are very happy to be able to leave. The past days have been stressful because of the issues, but now that is behind us, we can focus on what lies ahead. These 10 days will fly by. When we arrive, we will start working, focusing on the match against Mexico. I think everyone is looking forward to the World Cup."
South Africa are in Group A and will play the Czech Republic in Atlanta on June 18 and South Korea in Monterrey, Mexico, six days later. This is South Africa's fourth World Cup appearance, and they are looking to advance past the group stage for the first time.
