Community support shines as stranded football players seek return home
Good Samaritans have come together to offer financial assistance and resources to alleviate the distressing situation faced by a group of BT Football Academy players and coaches who are currently stranded in Europe.
The group 28 young children aged between 13 and 18, along with their coaches, who were due to return to South Africa on July 16.
However, some remain stranded due to unforeseen circumstances. They found themselves in this predicament after participating in the Donosti Cup in San Sebastián, Spain.
Local radio and television personality Tracey Lange, through her initiative Tracey Lange Cares, has taken the lead in a campaign to facilitate the boys' return.
Thanks to this effort, Melisha from Travel Direct responded to the urgent appeal and offered her services to assist in bringing back the stranded players.
With the funds raised thus far, it is anticipated that the players and one coach from the group of will likely return to Cape Town on Wednesday evening.
As if the group's situation were not challenging enough, and with no return tickets booked, BT Football Academy owner Brandon Timmy requested that the group travel by bus to neighbouring Portugal. This would allow him to secure more affordable flights back to Cape Town.
Jayvin Chisholm, a coach at BT Football, returned home on Saturday with a small group of players. He mentioned that some Good Samaritans had generously covered the costs of accommodation and meals in Lisbon.
Chisholm said his life had been profoundly affected by this ordeal. He had heard of fundraising efforts but was sceptical, having encountered too many falsehoods during his experience with BT Football.
'Perhaps this is yet another instance of reserved tickets,' he said. Nevertheless, he remains hopeful that the public will respond to the appeal so that everyone can return to Cape Town.
He was also informed that parents have been filing complaints at local police stations after allegedly paying R50,000 for the trip.
In the meantime, the heart-wrenching situation faced by the players has provoked widespread anger within the local football community, which has expressed its outrage across social media.
The surge of compassion and indignation has taken centre stage on social platforms, with BT Football Academy Chairman Brandon Timmy emerging as a focal point of public criticism.
Online discussions have brought parental frustration to the fore and ignited broader concerns about BT Football's transparency and accountability.
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