The South African soccer team has dealt with isolation, insufficient training time and a host of other issues since two players and a video analyst tested positive for COVID-19 on Sunday.

Eighteen players were later identified as close contacts, which threw the team’s preparations for its Tokyo Olympic opener against Japan into disarray.

Coach David Notoane said the situation was difficult mentally and physically for his players, but attributed it to the rules in place without voicing an opinion on whether it was fair or unfair.