The Revolution Under-16 squad arrived in South Africa early this morning after a long day of travel. Players and staff met at Gillette Stadium at 4 a.m. on Saturday, before bussing down to New York to catch a direct flight to Johannesburg. 14.5 hours later, the group collected their bags at O.R. Tambo International Airport and after Head Coach Bryan Scales conducted a flash interview for the Future Champions Gauteng tournament website, hopped on a bus – complete with police escort – to the hotel.
After several meetings with tournament officials and team staff, the players went up to their rooms to unpack before a quick stretch and prehabilitation session. Lunch followed shortly after in one of the hotel’s restaurants, and nearly everyone then took the opportunity to battle their jetlag with a nap. 
Ahead of dinner, the group went for a walk around the hotel’s surrounding area, which we learned is near a university. Following our return, first-year Rev Guy Kabala shared a nice moment with his sisters, who he met up with briefly for the first time in six years.
Dinner was held in a second restaurant at the hotel and the team met after to discuss logistics for Monday – the first game day of the tournament. The rest of the night will continue to be low key as players continue to prepare.