ZIMBABWE senior men’s football team coach Zdrvako Logarusic has been denied entry into South Africa because of visa issues with the local travel agency accepting responsibility for the mishap.
The Warriors arrived in Port Elizabeth today, where they are due to compete in this year’s edition of the Cosafa Cup.
With the Croatian refused entry into neighbouring South Africa, assistant coach Tonderai Ndiraya takes charge of the team on an interim basis pending the ratification of Logarusic’s papers.
“The team arrived safely in South Africa,” said Zifa Communications and Competitions Manager Xolisani Gwesela.
“The association would, however, want to inform the nation that the head coach… has been denied entry upon arrival at the Oliver Tambo International Airport based on him not holding a valid visa for the host country, South Africa.
” This is despite the fact that we confirmed with Visa and travel agencies in Zimbabwe before departure, and we were assured that as long as he possessed valid Zimbabwean workers to permit, he would be allowed entry into South Africa. We were then dismayed upon arrival when immigration officials told us that only service and diplomatic holders from Croatia were exempt from South African visa requirements.”
Meanwhile, the travel agent in question has apologised to Zifa and offered to pay the total costs involved in ratifying the visa issue.
” Please be advised that we are taking ownership of the oversight regarding Mr Logarusic’s visa into South Africa considering he holds a Croatian passport,” Seaview Travel executive Plaxedes Dube wrote to Zifa.
“Please note that we shall be liable for the costs incurred regarding his travel arrangements. We truly apologise for the inconvenience caused.”
