Team Burkina Faso stranded in Nelspruit
AS BURKINA Faso were frantically trying to overturn a red card handed to one of their key players ahead of the Africa Cup of Nations final on Sunday, the team was left stranded at the airport in Nelspruit, Mpumalanga, with no flight to take them to Johannesburg yesterday.
File photoThe Stallions arrived at the Kruger Mpumalanga Airport yesterday afternoon only to find out that no arrangements had been made for their flight to Johannesburg, where they are supposed to train for the final against Nigeria.
The final takes place at the National Stadium.
The side spent hours at the airport after CAF promised to organise an alternative flight.
At the time of going to press last night, Joseph Mabhika, Local Organising Committee's delegate to the Burkinabe team, said: "We were promised that by 7.30pm there would be an aircraft here for us. It seemed they would organise a private jet, but we are still here and have had no feedback from CAF."
The team expressed concern that they would not get enough time to train ahead of Sunday's clash, having missed the chance to train yesterday.
"The entire team is here. The players are tired and we don't know when we will be able to leave for Johannesburg," said Mabhika. "This is unfair for the team and will make it very difficult to prepare for the important final."
This latest setback adds salt to injury for the Stallions following the controversial red card that was given to one of their star players, Jonathan Patroipa, in their semifinal victory against Ghana.
Burkina Faso have appealed the red card. Attempts to get confirmation on the decision of the appeal were unsuccessful at the time of going to press, but it is believed a decision will be made today.
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asaowe
Simple sabotage why CAF & organising commitee doing these to Burkinabese m so disappointed wth there attitute toward the Team, on wesday it was Tunisian refree ysterday CAF/SAFA nxa. im glad that refree has been banned.Report Abuse
Ponko.Fontoyo
Burkina Faso.Report Abuse
Selfmade100millionaire
Hehehehe, they left late between half eight and nine pm. The plane just pass above my place and was Suprise why this time as normally they finish flying by 6pm I then findout and go the answers.Report Abuse
Pointman
Scam? Booking a return flight would have cost less - therefore less commission for the travel agent. Shoddy arrangement but not disastrous.Report Abuse
Shredder
SabotageReport Abuse
MorenaWaPolelo
This team is getting a raw deal maan, at the rate this is going the officiating, the playing turf, the logistics, match fixing this is loosing its shine!!!Report Abuse
Mosquer
Shame! Someone is behind your dissappointment. Beware of match fixing. I don't trust this NigeriansReport Abuse
MGEEZ
CAF must really get rid of these tendencies that are strange. I hope the team eventually got an aircraft to transport them to jhb and trust that they also got adequre rest.Report Abuse
Tbo.touch
Tjo, pure sabotage. Aowa CAF, ur so uproffessionalReport Abuse
3litreV6
@SowetanNow i really give \you are such a biased paper like SABC.
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