Nothing but love: Tracey Lange on rallying behind stranded soccer tour
What was meant to be the trip of a lifetime turned into a harrowing ordeal for this group of aspiring soccer players when travel planning a football tour to Spain went wrong. After competing in the Donosti Cup, more than two dozen players from Cape Town-based BT Football Academy found themselves stranded in Portugal, with no flights home.
Parents, who had paid an estimated R50k for the trip, were left in shock as return flights failed to materialise — reportedly due to visa delays and inflated travel costs.
As panic set in, Cape Town rallied.
Enter radio personality Tracey Lange, who spotted a post on the Coloured Girls Rock Facebook page and jumped into action. She helped launch a public fundraising campaign that would ultimately become a lifeline.
She joined forces with pastors Dane and Tersia Mesane of Christ Culture Church, whose compassion and leadership played a vital role in reuniting the children with their families.
"I saw the post on Coloured Girls Rock page on Facebook and that to me was proof that this was legit. We got hold of someone who could assist with the contact details of one of the coaches. We wanted all information before going live on social media so that all questions could be answered. Avukile got onto the parents' WhatsApp group to make sure he had all the info from the parents,' recalls Tracey.
"The response was immense from the get-go with someone suggesting that if just 1000 people donate R50 it would make everything possible,' she says.
And just like that – within 24 hours – hope turned into action. It was confirmed: the children were finally on their way back home.
The first group of boys are expected to arrive back in the Mother City this afternoon.
Behind-the-scenes acts of kindness
Further offers of assistance and posts celebrating Tracey's efforts are being shared far and wide, with some real homegrown flavour. One "aunty" has promised Gatsby sandwiches for the whole squad on arrival.
"People have shown us just how good the world can be," adds Tracey.
According to reports, the academy cited late visa appointments, last-minute flight costs, and a lack of funds as reasons for the failure. As a result, the group was moved by bus to Lisbon, Portugal, in search of cheaper flights, where they remained stuck without confirmed travel arrangements.
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The ordeal serves as a stark reminder of the importance of proper travel planning, timely visa applications and documentation, along with the necessary travel insurance - all essential safeguards to prevent young travellers from being left stranded far from home.
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