A group of 25 schoolchildren from Cape Town were left stranded in Europe after travelling to Spain on one-way tickets for an international soccer tournament – with no confirmed return flight home.
The young players, aged between 13 and 18, represented BT Football Academy, a Cape Town-based youth development club, at the Donosti Cup 2025 in San Sebastián, Spain.
While they were scheduled to return home on July 15, it was soon discovered that their tickets only covered the outbound journey.
This left the children stranded in Portugal, reportedly with no food, accommodation, or funds to secure their return to South Africa.
This left many of us wondering how exactly this happened
The tickets were allegedly booked by the club’s founder, Brandon Timmy, who is said to have purchased the one-way flights at Cape Town International airport. Timmy also operates his own travel company, BT Travel – which means that he has knowledge of loopholes in the system that most travellers are not aware of.
While Timmy and his wife returned to South Africa on their return tickets, the children were left behind in Europe, prompting concerns and confusion over how such a trip was allowed to proceed without proper travel documentation.
@pitch.invadersza UPDATE ON STRANDED FOOTBALL PLAYERS IN EUROPE 🇿🇦🚨 #BTFootballAcademy #SouthAfrica #pitchinvadersza #greenscreen #fyp ♬ original sound – Pitch Invaders ZA
According to travel experts, this type of oversight should have been flagged during the departure process.
Most countries, including South Africa, require proof of onward or return travel as a condition of entry and departure – especially when minors are involved.
An issued flight ticket refers to a paid, confirmed airline booking that includes all details of the journey.
However, an issued one-way ticket cannot be used as a return ticket, unless specifically purchased as a round-trip fare with both outbound and inbound segments. Without such proof, passengers risk being denied entry or even deported from foreign countries.
Local radio personality Tracy Lange stepped in to help. She contacted travel agent Melisha Moodley of Travel Direct, who in turn teamed up with Ceu Dia, another travel consultant.
Together, they launched a rescue mission to bring the children home through emergency fundraising and donations.
BT Football Academy’s response
Despite the growing concern, BT Football Academy offered no financial assistance and has only issued a public statement through the media.
The club has a history of organising overseas football tours, which now come under scrutiny following the handling of this trip.
Angolan airline TAAG stepped up to offer discounted flight tickets to assist the stranded group.
In a generous gesture, Pastor Dane Mesane from Christ Culture Church in Paarden Eiland offered to cover the cost of the return flights.
Thanks to this collaboration, three children arrived back in Cape Town last night, with another nine landing safely this morning. The remaining children are expected to arrive by the evening.
While the immediate crisis has been averted, serious questions remain about how the group was able to depart South Africa on one-way tickets, and what oversight mechanisms were (or weren’t) in place to protect the students.
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