BAFANA Bafana have finally arrived at their Fifa World Cup base camp in Pachuca, Mexico, after overcoming the visa challenges that delayed their departure from South Africa on Sunday, 31 May.
The South African senior men's national team landed in Mexico on Tuesday, 2 June, in high spirits following a lengthy journey from Joburg that included a two-hour refuelling stop in Cape Verde.
Despite the travel setback that dominated headlines over the weekend, the mood in camp was upbeat as the squad settled into its World Cup home before next week's tournament opener against hosts Mexico.
The team's arrival attracted significant attention from local and international media, with dozens of journalists gathering at the airport and outside the team's hotel.
Mexican media reported growing excitement before the opening match between the hosts and Bafana at the iconic Estadio Azteca on 11 June.
Bafana will be based in Pachuca throughout the tournament, where they will train at the Universidad del Futbol. The team is staying at the Camino Real Pachuca Hotel.
Safa confirmed that all players and key personnel are now in camp, including team doctor Tshepo Molobi and head performance analyst Sinesipho Mali.
Assistant coach Helman Mkhalele and head of security Mdu Mbatha, whose visas were among those delayed, have since secured the necessary travel documents and are expected to join the team after travelling from South Africa on Tuesday.
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The team's arrival comes just days after visa complications prevented Bafana from departing as scheduled, forcing Safa to work closely with government authorities and the US Consulate to resolve the issue.
Former Bafana captain and goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune believes the off-field drama could have had a psychological impact on some players, particularly those preparing for their first World Cup.
"These incidents definitely affect players mentally because you prepare yourself for something and plan according to a specific schedule.
"When you suddenly hear that passports are not ready or visas have not been issued, it can distract you from focusing on football," said Khune.
He called on the senior members of the squad to help keep the younger players focused on the task ahead.
"I hope the captain and the senior players in the team will help the younger players focus fully on the tournament and not on issues happening off the field. These are matters that should have been resolved long before the team travelled," said the former Kaizer Chiefs goalkeeper.
Khune stated that players perform best when administrative matters are handled efficiently.
"For players, the most important thing is to focus on football. When these issues happen at the last minute, it's unfair on them and can affect their preparation," he added.
With the visa saga now largely behind them, coach Hugo Broos and his squad can finally turn their full attention to the challenge ahead as South Africa prepares for its first Fifa World Cup appearance since 2010.
