Latest news with #BrandonTimmy
Daily Maverick
6 hours ago
- Sport
- Daily Maverick
Stranded soccer players and coaches on their way home thanks to local support
A radio personality and a church have helped to bring the junior players home after being left stranded in Europe by their academy. The 22 stranded junior South African soccer players in Lisbon, Portugal, along with three coaches, will be transported back to South Africa after fundraising and private sponsorship secured their imminent return. Radio personality Tracey Lange, through her Tracey Lange Cares initiative, raised the money to secure return flights for the 28 South Africans. The players were meant to return to South Africa but their soccer academy that sent them, BT Football Academy, failed to buy return-flight tickets, with CEO and founder Brandon Timmy excusing the price of the return flights at the time of purchase as the reason for the ordeal. BT Football Academy had two squads, an under-14 and under-19 team, taking part in the age-group Donosti Cup tournament in Spain, and flew a squad of 35 players and four coaches to the country. Only 10 players and one coach returned last week – after an additional R15,000 was paid by the parents of the young athletes, above the R50,000 initial payment for the trip, while the other 25 athletes and three coaches trekked to neighbouring Portugal by bus. 'We can confirm that we have managed to raise the funds to pay for all 28 flight tickets and with the assistance of TAAG [Airlines] have managed to secure seats on flights within the next few days,' Lange, who has been using her online platform to raise funds, said. 'Everyone will be home by the end of the week.' Church steps in The Christ Culture Church noted that it had covered nearly all the costs of the 28 stranded South Africans through Tracey Lange Cares. 'As the major sponsor, we covered approximately 95% of the total flight costs,' it said. 'At the time of payment, R54,000 had been received through public financial donations, and many more contributions – financial and in-kind – have continued to come in since. 'This is more than a rescue – it is a testimony of what can happen when a nation chooses unity over division, action over apathy, and love over fear.' According to its statement, TAAG Airlines reduced the cost of the flight, which had been the biggest hindrance in Timmy's failure to buy the return-flights.
IOL News
13 hours ago
- Sport
- IOL News
Community support shines as stranded football players seek return home
The group 25 young children aged between 13 and 18, along with their coaches, who were due to return to South Africa on July 16. 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. Get your news on the go, click here to join the Cape Argus News WhatsApp channel. Cape Argus
IOL News
2 days ago
- Sport
- IOL News
Cape Flats soccer stars stranded in Spain
Young soccer players from the Cape Flats are stranded in Spain after their return tickets failed to materialise. Image: Daniel Allgyer from Pixabay It was meant to be a dream football experience, but young soccer players from the Cape Flats are stranded in Spain after their return tickets failed to materialise. The distressing situation unfolded just weeks after players from Brandon Timmy's BT Football — a Cape Town-based academy — embarked on a tour inspired by aspirations of honing their football skills and immersing themselves in Spain's rich footballing culture. However, when the group concluded their activities and prepared to return home, reality struck. The return tickets that were supposed to bring them back to South Africa were mysteriously unavailable. The shocking news has left the young players and their families in Cape Town reeling in disbelief and despair. According to LinkedIn, Timmy is also listed as the owner of a travel agency, BT Travel. While a few return tickets had surfaced in the days prior, the broader situation remained dire. Efforts to reach Brandon Timmy have thus far been unsuccessful. He did not respond to calls, and his wife, Jonique, terminated a call without comment. Meanwhile, Jayvin Chisholm, a BT Football coach, returned home with a small group of players on Saturday. He recounted the emotional and frustrating ordeal of having to leave their teammates behind. The distressing circumstances have left Chisholm 'crushed,' largely due to what he described as an apparent lack of planning that forced coaches to take on roles typically reserved for professional tour managers. Several coaches reportedly paid for various expenses from their own pockets, with one covering more than R60 000 in costs. In an exclusive interview with Independent Media, Chisholm outlined the chaos that marked the tour, including critical gaps in travel and accommodation arrangements — areas he felt were handled with alarming unprofessionalism. Desperate for help, the coaches approached the South African Embassy in Madrid, but their efforts were in vain. Back home, a heartfelt show of solidarity emerged. Cape Town football coach Shamieg Mc Laurie took to social media to shine a light on the group's ordeal. Posting on his Facebook page, Captured Sporting Moments, Mc Laurie raised awareness and called for support from the broader community. He also revealed that the players' parents had each paid about R50 000 for the trip, making the situation even more tragic. According to Mc Laurie, Timmy has since gone missing, and families are unable to make contact with him. Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture, Gayton McKenzie, has reportedly been made aware of the players' plight. Further responses from authorities and organisers are awaited as the young players and their families continue to seek a resolution to the crisis. Get your news on the go, click here to join the Cape Argus News WhatsApp channel. Cape Argus
IOL News
2 days ago
- Sport
- IOL News
Cape Flats soccer stars stranded in Spain
Young soccer players from the Cape Flats are stranded in Spain after their return tickets failed to materialise. Image: Daniel Allgyer from Pixabay It was meant to be a dream football experience, but young soccer players from the Cape Flats are stranded in Spain after their return tickets failed to materialise. The distressing situation unfolded just weeks after players from Brandon Timmy's BT Football — a Cape Town-based academy — embarked on a tour inspired by aspirations of honing their football skills and immersing themselves in Spain's rich footballing culture. However, when the group concluded their activities and prepared to return home, reality struck. The return tickets that were supposed to bring them back to South Africa were mysteriously unavailable. The shocking news has left the young players and their families in Cape Town reeling in disbelief and despair. According to LinkedIn, Timmy is also listed as the owner of a travel agency, BT Travel. While a few return tickets had surfaced in the days prior, the broader situation remained dire. Efforts to reach Brandon Timmy have thus far been unsuccessful. He did not respond to calls, and his wife, Jonique, terminated a call without comment. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ Meanwhile, Jayvin Chisholm, a BT Football coach, returned home with a small group of players on Saturday. He recounted the emotional and frustrating ordeal of having to leave their teammates behind. The distressing circumstances have left Chisholm 'crushed,' largely due to what he described as an apparent lack of planning that forced coaches to take on roles typically reserved for professional tour managers. Several coaches reportedly paid for various expenses from their own pockets, with one covering more than R60 000 in costs. In an exclusive interview with Independent Media, Chisholm outlined the chaos that marked the tour, including critical gaps in travel and accommodation arrangements — areas he felt were handled with alarming unprofessionalism. Desperate for help, the coaches approached the South African Embassy in Madrid, but their efforts were in vain. Back home, a heartfelt show of solidarity emerged. Cape Town football coach Shamieg Mc Laurie took to social media to shine a light on the group's ordeal. Posting on his Facebook page, Captured Sporting Moments, Mc Laurie raised awareness and called for support from the broader community. He also revealed that the players' parents had each paid about R50 000 for the trip, making the situation even more tragic. According to Mc Laurie, Timmy has since gone missing, and families are unable to make contact with him. Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture, Gayton McKenzie, has reportedly been made aware of the players' plight. Further responses from authorities and organisers are awaited as the young players and their families continue to seek a resolution to the crisis. Get your news on the go, click here to join the Cape Argus News WhatsApp channel. Cape Argus
