Jubilation and tears as last batch of BT Football Academy players who were stranded in Europe welcomed home
Thirty-four young footballers and four coaches flew to Spain earlier in July for a football tour arranged by BT Football Academy but the academy failed to book return flights leaving the entire squad standing for more than a week.
Family members and friends of the final batch of BT Football Academy players and coaches who were stranded in Europe wait for their arrival at the Cape Town International Airport on 24 July 2025. Picture: Cailyn Pretorius/EWN
CAPE TOWN - Cries of jubilation echoed through the international arrivals section of Cape Town International Airport on Thursday, as the last batch of young footballers and coaches who were stranded in Europe after a botched tour arrived on home soil.
Thirty-four young footballers and four coaches flew to Spain earlier in July for a football tour arranged by BT Football Academy.
The academy failed to book return flights despite participants paying R50,000 each for the trip, leaving the entire squad standing for more than a week.
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Tears flowed at Cape Town International Airport on Thursday as Cindy Griqua, mother to 17-year-old goalkeeper Josea, welcomed her son home after his ordeal in Europe.
"I'm actually excited and sad at the same time. The joy... the tears of joy just flew down."
Josea recounted his experience of the tour.
"I had a wonderful experience. It was quite amazing, but, unfortunately, the time I had to come home... I can't complain. The only complaint is when we had to come home."
The families of the young footballers have indicated they would like a full investigation into what led to the children being stranded in Spain.
'THE REAL HEROES'
One of the coaches, who has been hailed as a hero for ensuring the 34 young footballers and three other coaches made it back home safely, said it was a team effort.
Coach Jesse Julius, who arrived in Cape Town on Thursday with the last batch of young footballers, said the heroes were the people who made donations.
Julius organised travelling and accommodation for the players and coaches after they were left stranded in Spain by BT Football Academy.
"The real heroes are the journalists who have been following and writing the stories. The real heroes are Tracey Lange, Charl Dias, Abongile, the flight center, Melissa, everyone else. Those are the real heroes."
Julius said that the other coaches also deserved applause for their efforts to ensure the children arrived back home safely.