Illustrative image: Soccer balls on the pitch before the Italian Serie A match between SS Lazio and Juventus FC at the Olimpico stadium in Rome, Italy, on 10 May 2025. (Photo: EPA / Riccardo Antimani) 
Twenty-five junior soccer players from Cape Town are currently stranded in Portugal, alongside three coaches, after the local soccer academy, which sent them over to take part in a tournament, failed to purchase return-flight tickets to South Africa.
BT Football Academy sent a group of 35 teenagers, aged between 13 and 18, alongside four coaches, to participate in the Donosti Cup in Spain, an annual age-group soccer tournament which takes place in San Sebastián.
Parents of these young athletes paid R50,000 for the expenses of the trip, which was supposed to be nine days, from 6 July until 15 July, with the tournament taking place from 7 July until 13 July.
Currently 25 kids (five girls, 20 boys) and three coaches are stranded in Lisbon, Portugal, after travelling to the neighbouring country by bus, after 10 children – whose parents forked out an extra R15,000 to have their children returned to South Africa – and one coach are now at home.
The reason provided for the lack of return tickets for the athletes was because of the exorbitant prices at the time they wanted to make the purchase, impacted by delays in the visa application process.
“Unfortunately, our preparations were significantly impacted by delays in securing visa appointment slots,” a statement by BT Football Academy read. “Despite our early attempts to begin the visa process, we were only granted appointments much later than planned. “As a result, visas were received merely a week before the intended departure. This created immense pressure on our team to secure flights within an extremely short timeframe.
“The cost of return flights so close to the departure date proved unaffordable.”
Essentially, the tickets were booked, but the academy gambled on cheaper return-flight prices to fall within the budget. Unfortunately, ticket prices did not come down in the interim, leaving about a R15,000 shortfall per member stranded in Portugal.
‘Very unfortunate’
The Department of International Relations and Cooperation (Dirco) is aware of the situation but, according to spokesperson Chrispin Phiri, its hands are tied.
“This is very unfortunate and we hope that all those involved will take responsibility and we encourage all South Africans with the means to assist where possible,” Phiri said to Daily Maverick in WhatsApp communication.
“Unfortunately, this is not a case [which] would fall directly within the ambit of our consular services. But we will endeavour to explore all avenues to assist.”
The young athletes were sent to Spain with the return tickets booked but not purchased, due to the prices at the time. Had the children not gone, BT Football Academy would have encountered a massive financial loss, according to BT Football Academy CEO and founder Brandon Timmy.
“When we bought the tickets, it was already late [in the process] and the return-ticket price at the time, upon receiving the visas, was extremely high,” Timmy told CapeTalk radio.
“Parents paid a lot of money to make this happen. From our side, we also had to pay money to the tournament organisers because it came with accommodation fees.
“If we had not received our visas and bought the flight tickets, there would’ve been a [financial] massive loss.”
According to BT Football Academy’s press statement, it had attempted to secure funding through government assistance, but to no avail.
“In anticipation of this challenge, we had reached out well in advance to various government departments and ministers seeking financial assistance,” the statement read.
“Regrettably, no response was received, neither via email nor telephonically, despite repeated efforts.”
No communication
BT Football Academy also acknowledged their poor communication to concerned parents in their statement.
“We acknowledge that our limited communication has caused concern,” it said.
“Please understand that we are working around the clock to find solutions to bring all players back home as soon as possible.
“The financial strain is heavy, but our commitment to our players and their families is unwavering.
“We are deeply grateful for the understanding, compassion and support we’ve received from parents, especially those whose children have previously toured with us and continue to stand by us during this unprecedented situation.
“This is the first time we have faced such a challenge and it is not reflective of our past.”
Currently, the 25 young athletes and three coaches are in a hostel in Portugal waiting to secure flight tickets to return to South Africa. DM