“Don’t Write Them Off!” — Jordaan On Bafana’s Nightmare 11-Hour Visa Blunder
Bafana Bafana assistant coach Helman Mkhalele was left behind in South Africa due to unresolved visa issues as the squad departed for Mexico on Monday for their 2026 FIFA World Cup preparations, SAFA president Danny Jordaan confirmed.
South Africa’s preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup got off to a difficult start after both players and members of the technical team encountered problems with their travel documentation ahead of their departure to North America.
Bafana Bafana were scheduled to depart on Sunday, but several visas had not been finalised, forcing a delay to the team’s travel plans.
The squad eventually left for Mexico on Monday, but Mkhalele was unable to travel with the team and remained behind in South Africa.
Jordaan said SAFA is working to resolve the matter, although the exact cause of the delay remains unclear.
“Yes, coach Helman is still here,” Jordaan said.
“We are still trying to determine what the issue is because we don’t know at this stage. We are addressing it now, and we hope the matter will be resolved soon.”
Despite the visa setback, Jordaan insisted the players remain highly motivated and believes the incident will not negatively affect the squad’s preparations. Instead, he feels it could serve as additional motivation as they gear up for the tournament.
“Absolutely. They are focused, they are highly motivated, and I’m sure they will do very, very well,” Jordaan said.
“They will surprise many South Africans who have written them off. You don’t write off this team. Their performances have shown what they are capable of. I’m proud of them for qualifying for the World Cup, and now the challenge is to progress beyond the group stages.”
Jordaan also pointed to the team’s previous travel difficulties during their FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign as evidence of their resilience.
“No, no, no. This team will not be affected in any way. When we played Nigeria, we spent 11 hours on the plane. The players didn’t get off; they remained on board the entire time,” he said.
“We arrived in Uyo the afternoon before the match, and the next day we played against Nigeria.”
