BT Academy has officially shut its doors after a travel debacle left dozens of young South African footballers stranded overseas without a way home .
The scandal erupted after a squad of under-14, under-19, and girls' teams jetted off to Spain for the prestigious Donosti Cup 2025, each family having paid R50 000 for what was promised to be a fully covered trip. But when the tournament wrapped up, chaos unfolded. Return flights, it turned out, had not been booked at all.
As panic set in, it emerged that none of the promised return arrangements had been finalised. Parents, who had forked out thousands in hopes of giving their children international exposure, were left scrambling for answers, and their kids, for a ticket home.
The group's coaching staff, who had received praise for their commitment and on-field guidance during the tournament, quit en masse shortly after the ordeal.
In a statement confirming the sudden closure of BT Academy, chairperson Brandon Timmy admitted to being at fault. He labelled it 'a serious mistake' and issued a heartfelt apology, saying the outcome had deeply affected everyone involved.