Banyana Banyana’s delayed luggage offers hopeful omen before Morocco quarter-final

Mihlali Baleka’s latest luggage mishap may prove to be a good omen as Banyana Banyana prepare to face Morocco in the WAFCON quarter-finals in Rabat on Saturday.

For the third consecutive time while travelling to cover the South Africa women’s team, Baleka arrived at his destination without his main bag. This time, the luggage was left behind at OR Tambo International Airport after he mistakenly packed a power bank in his checked baggage.

The bag was eventually recovered after two days in Rabat, Morocco, with everything still intact. Baleka had travelled through Doha before a connecting flight to Casablanca, and was writing about the experience on his way back from the airport to collect his luggage.

His latest travel problem has taken on added significance because of a belief he has carried since childhood.

As a member of the Nguni tribe, Baleka grew up understanding that luggage arriving at a destination before its owner is traditionally considered a bad omen, symbolising the owner’s death. That is why, when he began travelling between towns, provinces, countries and continents, he made a point of ensuring his bags never reached a destination before him.

Travelling by air eventually forced him to accept that his luggage could be delayed or sent ahead, even though the situation was beyond his control.

His first experience of losing track of his bags came in 2019, when he arrived at OR Tambo International Airport without them. The baggage claims desk told him the luggage was still at Heathrow Airport in London.

Baleka, who was travelling with his Sowetan colleague Sihle Ndebele, was reassured that the bags would arrive on the next flight. They did, and were delivered intact.

The same thing happened in 2023, when Baleka accompanied Banyana Banyana to New Zealand and Australia for their second successive World Cup appearance, travelling courtesy of the team’s primary sponsor, Sasol.

His itinerary took him from OR Tambo to New Zealand via Sydney. On arrival, he discovered that his bag had remained in Sydney. Once again, he was told: “Your bag is safe and will be sent on the next flight.”

Once again, the luggage arrived safely.

By then, Baleka’s superstitious side had begun questioning the repeated delays. Yet the 2023 tournament ended positively for Banyana Banyana, who reached the Round of 16 for the first time in their second attempt at the World Cup.

He does not claim the delayed luggage represented a reverse omen of the traditional Nguni belief, but the timing was difficult to ignore.

This latest incident was caused by a rushed departure. Uncertainty over Banyana Banyana’s qualification after a poor group-stage campaign meant Baleka had little time to pack. He accidentally placed a power bank in his checked bag and told a Qatar Airways agent that he had no hazardous or flammable items when asked.

Minutes before departure, airport security called him back to remove the power bank. With the flight already boarding, he had to leave the bag with airport personnel so it could be opened, the item removed and the luggage placed on the next available flight.

That delay has now added another layer to the build-up to a crucial match for South Africa.

Banyana Banyana meet hosts Morocco in Rabat later on Saturday, knowing victory will secure direct qualification for their third consecutive World Cup and ease the pressure on head coach Desiree Ellis and her players.

South Africa only qualified for the knockout stage at the death after a below-par group campaign. Defeat would mean they must attempt to reach the World Cup through the demanding play-offs.

Ellis, affectionately known as “Aunt Des”, has faced intense scrutiny in recent months. Critics have questioned whether she is out of her depth and too dependent on the old guard after selecting 16 players from the 26-member squad that won this tournament four years ago.

The 63-year-old sees the experience differently. She believes that the established core provides Banyana Banyana with a psychological and experienced advantage against their opponents, including the Atlas Lionesses.

There is evidence to support her confidence. Banyana Banyana defeated Morocco 2-1 in the 2022 final to win their first continental title, while Ellis has never failed to guide the team to a WAFCON semi-final since taking charge in 2016.

She is the longest-serving coach in the team’s history and is overseeing her fifth tournament. However, football can change quickly, and a quarter-final defeat would be Ellis’s first failure to reach the last four in a decade.

Baleka hopes the latest baggage delay signals another positive outcome and carries Banyana Banyana all the way to Brazil, the venue for the global showpiece.

Mihlali Baleka is covering WAFCON in Morocco for IOL, courtesy of Banyana Banyana’s premier sponsor, Sasol.