GAME OVER

A COACH at BT Football Academy believes it’s game over for the club after a disastrous tour to Europe.

The dream winter school-holiday trip to play in the Donostia Cup Tournament in San Sebastian, Spain ended with a group of 38 players and staff stranded in Portugal after their return tickets were not paid.

Sports bosses have vowed to get to the bottom of the fiasco, with their sights set on club founder and tour organiser, Brandon Timmy.

Timmy says that ticket prices skyrocketed after he booked them and had to ask parents to fork out an extra R15 000 after having already paid a hewige R50 000.

Families yesterday welcomed the remaining kids after radio personality Tracey Lange and Pastor Dane Mesane of Christ Culture Church in Paarden Eiland covered the discounted cost of the return flights with Angolan airline Taag.

Parents sang the national anthem after the plane touched down at Cape Town International Airport just after lunchtime.

But the joy masked the anger, with reports that complaints have been registered with the South African Police Service (SAPS).

Safa Cape Town vice president Andrew Bothman was also part of the welcoming committee and promised to investigate the debacle.

He said: “We’re here to support the families and see everyone reunited. And once that is done, we’ll do an investigation on this matter.”

Western Cape MEC for Sports, Arts and Culture Ricardo Mackenzie is also on Timmy’s case.

With club owner Timmy under intense scrutiny, coach Jayvin Christopher reckons that it’s game over for the club, where he and others work to help kids live their passion for football.

A disappointed Jayvin told IOL: “I don’t see BT having any future. There’s no way parents or anyone could trust them...

“Also after all the court cases that will be opening up, I think it will be close to impossible to even coach and look after another kid again.”

In response to the anger and allegations, Timmy told Independent Media: “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.”