After thumping US Zilimadjou 4-0 in the first leg of the CAF Champions League preliminary round last Saturday, Jwaneng Galaxy has come crashing back down to earth.
The mining side was due to leave for Comoros for the return leg on Monday.
However, a positive Covid-19 test for one of the team’s technical staff the night before they were scheduled to fly out has put paid to those plans.
The entire squad was then forced to undergo mandatory quarantine as first contacts, as well as re-taking their tests.
“The team missed the flight due to that unfortunate incident. They wrote a letter to BFA seeking advice and the association wrote a letter to CAF informing them of the situation. CAF responded to say the team must honor the fixture since it is only one official who tested positive. BFA wrote another letter asking for a postponement of the game and CAF agreed to move it from Friday to this coming Sunday,” revealed a highly placed source in the mining town.
With the ‘luxury’ of an extra two days, management had planned to fly with Kenya Airways, connecting from OR Tambo and traveling via Nairobi.
However, that plan reportedly hit a snag as the targeted flight is already fully booked. The club is waiting to hear back from the airliner on whether a possible alternative can be arranged. According to the source, Kenya Airways has promised to give Galaxy feedback between 9-10 am on Thursday (3 December) morning.
The reigning Premier League champions also have the option of chartering a private flight, but that is expected to cost the club in the region of P1 million.
When reached for a comment on the travel delays, Galaxy’s PRO, Tankiso Morake flatly refused to discuss the issue.
If they fail to fulfill the fixture, depending on CAFs discretion, Galaxy could be booted out of the tournament and face a two-year ban from continental football.
Meanwhile, Orapa United take a slender 2-1 lead into the second leg of their CAF Confederation Cup tie against AS Kigali.
The Boys from Boteti landed safely in the Rwandan capital on Wednesday ahead of Sunday’s all-important encounter.
Should Teenage Mpote’s Ostriches get passed their East African opponents, they would face the Ugandan side, KCCA in the first round proper.