SOUTH AFRICAN SOCCER TEAM MAY BE STRANDED.

Chronicle (Levin), 5 June 1947, Page 6

SOUTH AFRICAN SOCCER TEAM MAY BE STRANDED.

Eeceived Wednesday, 7.0 p.m. SYDNEY, June 4. Members of the All Blacks are interested in a report that all attempts to obtain a sea passage home for the South African soccer team, have failed and that a ship might not be available for six months. The Australian Soccer Association is faced with a costly choice all of which would absorb the entire profit from the tour and leave the association >.jn debt. All Black team members say transport to and from South Afriea is the biggest hurdle in the way-of the South African Hour by the All Blacks and that the todr is unlikely unless the 'New Zealand Eugby Union is assured of adequate transport each way. The fa^ts about. travel -difficulties which face members of tlie South Afri: ean soccer teaxqj-aye outlined by MxvE. E. Druery, secretary of the Austra'liab Soccer Association as follow: — Despi^fe close negotiations oyer manv weeks, with Dr. Evatt, the Minister of Supply and Shipping (Senator Ashley) and the shipping companies, the association has been unable to secure a promise of ship aclibinmodation to Durban within.: six, months. The association noxfr has to decxde whether to keep "the playershere till a ship is available, fly them to Cairo for a later air passage to Durban, or send them by ship to England for a later sea passage to Durban. It would cost £11,475 to fly them to Cairo plus expenses for an inoculation period of two weeks. The sea passage to England would cost £8000. To keep the team in Aiistralia would also be costly. Unless sometliing unforeseen occurs, the Australian association will be faced with expenses which will use up all the profits made oix the tour and probably leave a heavy burden of debt. Mr. Druery admitted that the, Australian association had also failed to secure sliip accommodation for the South African 's New Zealand • visit. The tour was made possible by the New Zealand Tourist Bureau whieli provided a speeial Skymaster to fly the team both ways across the Tasman. The transport worry will come to a head when the team returns from New Zealand at the end of July.