Ramaphosa rallies South Africa behind Bafana Bafana for World Cup after visa issue resolved
via The Citizen2 min read
President Cyril Ramaphosa has called on South Africans to unite behind the national football team, Bafana Bafana, as they prepare for the Fifa World Cup opener against Mexico. This follows the resolution of a visa issue that had delayed the team's departure. Sports Minister Gayton McKenzie confirmed that all players secured their United States visas and would depart for the tournament on Monday, a day later than scheduled. The squad was initially set to leave for their training base in Pachuca, Mexico, on Sunday morning. Bafana Bafana are returning to the World Cup for the first time since South Africa hosted the tournament in 2010. In his weekly newsletter, Ramaphosa urged the nation to support the team, stating, "I call on all South Africans to rally behind our team and show their support. Let us wear the team colours and fly the flag." He praised the efforts to transform local football and emphasized the symbolic importance of the team's participation, noting that for 90 minutes, South Africans would stand together behind their national team. Ramaphosa reminded the squad of the nation's expectations, stating, "As I told the Bafana Bafana squad last week, the people of South Africa expect them to bring the trophy home." He drew parallels with the 1995 Rugby World Cup, highlighting that the country, like the team, has emerged from a difficult period and looks to the future with hope. Ramaphosa concluded with a rallying cry: "One Team. One Nation. Behind Bafana. Behind South
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