South Africa Goes to Extremes: Even Blocking Its Own Media Ahead of Crucial Match

[Anchor]

South Africa, which must defeat us to keep its hopes of reaching the Round of 32 alive, is employing a thorough smokescreen strategy to minimize the leakage of information. From suddenly moving up its travel schedule to Monterrey by a day to restricting coverage even from its own national broadcasters, the team is showing signs of desperation.

Jeon Young-min reports.

[Reporter]

After drawing its second match against the Czech Republic on the 19th and falling to the bottom of the group, South Africa has become extremely reluctant to disclose even basic information.

The team was originally scheduled to travel to the match venue, Monterrey, on June 23 (local time), one day before the game. However, perhaps to secure time to adjust to the sweltering heat and humidity of Monterrey—which is higher than at their base camp in Pachuca—they hastily changed their schedule to travel today, June 22, and only informed the media once the departure date arrived.

Regarding training, South Africa even held a session as scheduled after officially announcing on the tournament app that it had been "canceled."

As this situation continues, media outlets from various countries, including the host nation Mexico, have been forced to track the South African team's hotel and travel schedule through local city committees rather than the South African Football Association.

A reporter from a South African broadcasting station who attempted to film the team's arrival wrote on social media, "The media was chased out into the rain. As accredited national media, we pleaded to get closer to capture the team's arrival at the hotel, but it was denied."

South Africa's head coach Hugo Broos, who is in desperate need of a win, is also tight-lipped regarding questions about our national team.

[Hugo Broos/Head Coach, South Africa National Football Team: If I say here that 'Player A, B, and C of South Korea are threatening,' the South Korean head coach will see this interview and adjust his strategy. I am very sorry that I cannot answer your question.]

Despite these "smokescreen" tactics by South Africa to minimize the exposure of their strategy, major international betting sites are predicting an overwhelming advantage for South Korea.

(Video reporting: Hwang In-seok | Video editing: Kim Yoon-sung | Graphics: Park Tae-young, Kim Han-gil)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.