Spanish tour fiasco ends in joy

THE traumatic week-long wait ended in joy and celebrations when anxious parents welcomed their children home from Spain after the local football academy responsible for the trip failed to provide them with return tickets. 

“That was a very traumatic experience. What kept us together was that we could chat to our daughter on a daily basis, (with) video calls. We are just happy she’s ok,” said an overjoyed mother Moeneeb Coetzee. 

Her daughter Aalia was among a group of 38 including an under 14 team, an under 19 team and a girls team participating in the Donosti Cup 2025 in Spain.

Until the very last day things were running smoothly, however when they were ready to return, they learned their return flights had not been booked by organisers, despite paying R50 000 for all expenses on the trip.

BT Academy has previously cited delayed visa appointments as the reason it failed to confirm return flights in time, leading to unaffordable prices when they wanted to pay. 

After parents reached out for help, South Africans came on board including the Tracey Lange Cares (TLC) initiative and Shantelle Engelbrecht from the Facebook page Coloured Girls Rock, to facilitate the return of the group.

Another parent of a 13-year-old boy, who asked to remain anonymous, said his son had arrived on Wednesday night just before midnight, with the first group of eight players and a coach, mostly the under 14 boys. 

“We are good, the stress levels are much lower. They basically came in singing. The parents were very ecstatic. They didn't even really give the kids a chance to get through the (airport) doors and the parents were already with them.”

He said his son was just happy to see his family.

“On the drive home, he said he does feel he at least got something out of the tournament from playing in Europe.”

According to the parent, the last time they heard from BT Academy's Brandon Tilly was last  Saturday. 

He said many parents wanted their money back for the return flight that was not paid by BT Academy as well as additional amounts of R15 000 that some parents were requested to pay. 

“A lot of parents paid R15 000 but only eight came home. There were about 10 other parents that paid but their kids only came home with this group. I’m going to try and approach him in a personal capacity first, if he doesn't return the money I definitely will (take further steps),” he said.

Coach Jayvin Christopher said he did not see BT Academy having any future, “there’s no way parents will trust (the academy) after this”.

Tilly said he could not comment on the matter but expressed gratitude to Tracey Lange and others who helped bring the group home.

“I’ve been advised by my legal representatives to refrain from making any comments until the kids are back in the country, then we will address the situation because there’s a lot that has been said that is completely false," he said.

He also declined to comment on the future of BT Academy and the South African Football Association’s (Safa) investigation into the fiasco.

Safa Cape Town, who were also present to welcome the soccer players home, said they had drafted terms of reference for the legal team. 

“We hope to receive recommendations within 30 days. We ask parents, if it’s a trip, if you are in doubt, ask SAFA. We’ll conduct the necessary due process. That's a service we offer free of charge,” said Safa Cape Town president Bennett Bailey.

Cape Times