Visa delays for Amaglug-glug

Johannesburg - The national Under-23 team's Olympic prospects took further strain as the squad failed to leave for Morocco on Monday as scheduled.

Amaglug-glug, fresh of successive defeats to Algeria, play Cote d'Ivoire on Saturday in the African U-23 Championships, an eight-team event, which serves as a qualifier for the 2012 London Games.

However, visa issues delayed their departure - much to coach Shakes Mashaba's dismay.

"It's a big blow that we did not leave (as scheduled)," he said on a radio show on Monday night.

Team manager Levy Ramajoe is already in Morocco and has secured two training grounds and a practice match.

Mashaba's preparations first hit a snag when some PSL clubs refused to release players for the recent two-match series in Algeria.

Mashaba publicly crossed swords with PSL chairman Irvin Khoza over the issue before the former Bafana Bafana boss was assured he would get the support he desired.