South Africa Squad Departs for World Cup Without Assistant Coach After US Visa Delay

South Africa's World Cup squad departed for the tournament a day late on Monday, leaving behind assistant coach Helman Mkhalele due to visa complications. The team was initially scheduled to leave on Sunday, but the departure was postponed as they had not received travel visas for some players and staff members. Sports Minister Gayton McKenzie expressed his embarrassment over the situation, attributing the delay to an administrative error by team officials. He demanded a report from the South African Football Association (SAFA) regarding the mishap. The assistant coach's visa was denied without explanation, which has raised concerns about the team's preparedness ahead of their opening match against co-host Mexico on June 11 in Mexico City. The South African team is also set to play one of its group games in the United States, making the visa issue particularly critical. SAFA President Danny Jordaan confirmed that while all players had secured their visas, Mkhalele's situation remained unresolved at the time of departure. In response to the chaos, SAFA has apologized for the delay and indicated that they received assistance from the South African Foreign Ministry and the U.S. Consulate in Johannesburg to expedite the visa process. This incident follows previous scrutiny of the team's management, which faced backlash for an administrative error during World Cup qualifying when a suspended player participated in a match, leading to a loss of points. As South Africa prepares for its first World Cup appearance since hosting the tournament in 2010, the team is eager to make a strong impression. They will be based in Pachuca, Mexico, and have a final warm-up match against Jamaica scheduled before the tournament begins. The squad's management is hopeful that Mkhalele's visa issues will be resolved soon, allowing him to join the team in time for their crucial matches.