Bafana finally depart for World Cup after visa chaos, but assistant coach left behind

Bafana Bafana travelled on a charter flight from Johannesburg after South African Football Association (SAFA) officials spent the weekend resolving visa issues that had initially prevented the team from leaving on Sunday.

While all 26 players were cleared to travel, assistant coach Helman Mkhalele remained in South Africa after failing to secure a U.S. visa, forcing him to miss the team's departure.

Sports Minister Gayton McKenzie had earlier confirmed that the players had received their visas, but revealed that four members of the support staff - including Mkhalele, the team doctor, head of security and an analyst - were still awaiting clearance.

The situation sparked criticism from supporters on social media, with many questioning how key members of the travelling delegation had not secured their documentation despite the World Cup being months in the planning.

Mkhalele's case has proven particularly problematic. The former Bafana winger, who earned 66 caps and represented South Africa at the 1998 World Cup in France, had his visa application denied without explanation.

"They refused the visa, but gave no reasons. It is very difficult to deal with the process where you get no information," SAFA president Danny Jordaan told the South African Broadcasting Corporation.

"We don't know why it was denied, we are clutching in the dark, but we hope the matter will be resolved. All of the players are on the flight and 99 percent of the technical staff."

The visa complications formed part of what SAFA described as an administrative error that disrupted the team's original travel plans and created an anxious final few days before departure.

With the squad now in Mexico, coach Hugo Broos said attention could finally turn to football.

"Now we are very happy that we can go to Mexico," Broos said. "The past days have been a little bit stressful with all the problems we had, but those problems are behind us now and we can focus on what's coming.

"These 10 days go very fast. Once we get there we will start working and focusing on the first game against Mexico, so time will pass very quickly. I think everybody is looking forward to starting the World Cup."

South Africa will play Jamaica in a warm-up match on Friday before facing co-hosts Mexico in the tournament's opening fixture in Mexico City on June 11.

Broos' side are drawn in Group A alongside Mexico, the Czech Republic and South Korea. Bafana will meet the Czechs in Atlanta on June 18 before concluding their group-stage campaign against South Korea in Monterrey six days later.

Competing at their fourth World Cup finals, South Africa will be aiming to progress beyond the group stage for the first time in the nation's history.