A group of young footballers from Cape Town have been left stranded abroad after taking part in a tournament in Spain.
BT Football Academy were scheduled to return on 16 July, with schools in the Western Cape set to re-open on Tuesday 22, July.
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With the tournament now concluded, a big group of the players are still stranded in Europe as the cost of the return flights is too high.
BT Football Academy explained in a statement that getting visas shortly before their intended departure date played a role in securing flights in a 'short timeframe'.
Statement:
BT Football Academy would like to formally address the current situation regarding our Donosti Cup Tour 2025 and provide clarity to all parents and supporters.
Prior to departure, all essential elements of the tour-including accommodation, food, tournament registration, and other logistical requirements-were paid and secured. Our team was excited and well-prepared to represent South Africa in the prestigious Donosti Cup. Unfortunately, our preparations were significantly impacted by delays in securing visa appointment slots. 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. In anticipation of this challenge, we had reached out well in advance to various government departments and ministers seeking financial assistance. Regrettably, no response was received-neither via email nor telephonically-despite repeated efforts. The boys and girls successfully participated in the Donosti Cup tournament, showcasing both skill and sportsmanship on an international stage. However, upon conclusion of the tournament, the return flight prices remained prohibitively high, and we were still unable to secure tickets home.
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In the meantime, we made the decision to extend accommodation for all players and ensured they received meals every day. These additional costs have gone far beyond what was initially paid by parents. Nonetheless, our priority has remained the safety, well-being, and dignity of every player entrusted to our care.
We acknowledge that our limited communication has caused concern. 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 tours.
We remain hopeful and are actively pursuing every possible option and not rest until every player is safely.
