South Africa has refused entry to Kristijan Jakic and Nediljko Labrovic due to a system error with their visas. The Croatians from FC Augsburg have since returned to Frankfurt
Bad surprise for goalkeeper Nediljko Labrovic and six-man Kristijan Jakic at Johannesburg airport. On arrival on Thursday, the system spit them out under Nigerian names. On their departure from Germany, everything had been fine with their visas and there were no complaints. The error was obviously in the South Africans’ system, but the authorities showed no mercy to the FCA players.
They were initially detained at the airport for hours, and in the meantime their passports and cell phones were taken away. FCA managing director Michael Ströll decided not to travel on to Mbombela with the team, stood by the players and negotiated. Despite subsequently submitting documents, the situation was not resolved, Labrovic and Jakic were deported and flew back to their original stopover in Dubai with Ströll.
FCA contacted the authorities and the DFL in Germany, so far without success. As a result, the two Croatians have now landed back in Frankfurt and are keeping fit individually. Ströll joined the FCA delegation on Saturday afternoon during the test match against Tanzanian champions Young Africans SC.
Giannoulis transfer on the home straight
Now the hope is that the matter can be resolved by Monday and the players can then travel from Frankfurt in the evening. Perhaps even with Dimitrios Giannoulis, the free agent left-back from Greece. Despite prominent competitors, especially from Greece, the FCA is on the home stretch in signing the player, who will then travel to South Africa.
In the test against the Young Africans, coach Jess Thorup saw two different halves in the 2:1 win. He was satisfied with the first, but not with the second and a completely new team. “I was a bit disappointed with the second half, I have to be honest. We allowed too many goalscoring opportunities and I wasn’t happy with that,” said the Dane. In the second and final test match during the training camp, FCA will face South African hosts Galaxy TS, sixth in the national championship, next Saturday.
