Safa President Danny Jordaan believes Bafana Bafana have the experience to overcome any travel delays they have encountered ahead of their departure for the Fifa World Cup.
Bafana only departed for Mexico on Monday afternoon after being turned away at OR Tambo International Airport on Sunday because the entire squad and management did not have the necessary visa documentation.
Assistant coach and Bafana legend of the 1998 Fifa World Cup, Helman Mkhalele, is also still in South Africa, having not left with the team on Monday.
According to Jordaan: “We still have to see what issues, which we don’t know. We are touching it now. But we hope that that matter [Mkhalele] will be resolved.”
It is a similar scenario to when Mamelodi Sundowns’ departure for their CAF Champions League final second leg against AS FAR in Morocco was also delayed due to administrative issues.
Jordaan made reference to this, as Sundowns were still able to grind out a result to lift the CAF Champions League for the second time in Morocco. He believes Bafana possesses similar resilience, having previously defeated Nigeria during the qualifying rounds after experiencing travel delays.
“No, no, no. This team will not be affected in any way. We spent 24 hours when we played against Nigeria, 11 hours on the plane. The players didn’t get off. They sat on the plane for 11 hours,” he said.
“We arrived in Oyo just the day before the match, and we arrived in the afternoon. And the next day, we played against Nigeria.
“Those players said that experience motivated them and kept them focused. So what you see is a team that is focused, that is determined not to let South Africans down. And I believe in them.
“These are experienced players. You saw Mamelodi Sundowns going into the Lions’ den in Morocco, and they had the grit and the determination to see it through.
“So it’s not the first time that they have these problems. But we believe that they will use that as extra motivation to do well.”
Bafana face Jamaica on Friday in their final warm-up match ahead of their Fifa World Cup opener against hosts Mexico on Thursday, June 11.
