Ukraine embassy’s own goal
Hundreds of Liverpool fans denied visas to Champions League final in Kiev, writes
IT WOULD have been an “I was there” moment watching Liverpool taking on Real Madrid live in last night’s epic Champions League final.
But die-hard football fan Derek Naidoo’s cup did not run over with joy because stubborn Ukrainian embassy officials refused to process his travel visa application quickly enough for him to attend the match, which was played at Kiev’s Olimpiyskiy Stadium.
The net result for Naidoo, 58, was instead of enjoying swigs of horilka, the traditional beverage, he caught the action at a clubhouse in Asherville, Durban.
“I would have loved to have been at the game. Liverpool is a club I have supported from my boyhood.
“In 2005, I was unable to travel to Turkey, the last time Liverpool won. I really wanted to do so on this occasion” said Naidoo, who lives on the Bluff.
Naidoo, a former professional goalkeeper with Amazulu FC and Manning Rangers, had a good feeling his team would make the final after going into the second leg of their semi-final with a 5-1 advantage over Roma.
He made a provisional booking for tickets and a Durban travel agency arranged his travel and visa on May 2.
Naidoo knew visas to Ukraine took a minimum of 15 days to process, but despite his quick thinking, he still couldn’t board the flight.
In Rome last month, Liverpool lost 4-2 in the second leg to AS Roma, but advanced 7-5 on aggregate.
But dribbling past the bureaucracy of pedantic officials at Ukraine’s Pretoria-based embassy proved too much for the agency working on Naidoo’s behalf.
The agent who was securing a visa was told the “High Commissioner” who signed off on visas was unavailable that week.
Even when the agent suggested her client was prepared to pay extra charges to have his application fast tracked, the response was that such requests were not entertained.
With time against him, Naidoo’s agent made another attempt for a visa in the new week (beginning May 8), but was again told the High Commissioner was not available.
“Surely, they should have had someone else on hand to certify visas, especially when their country is hosting a