The highly-anticipated Chibuku Super Cup quarter-final showdown between Dynamos and FC Platinum, slated for Mandava Stadium on Saturday, hangs in the balance due to FC Platinum’s three players participating in the national team’s match against Botswana on the same day.
The Warriors squad includes Captain Frank Makarati, midfielders Tanaka “Kante” Shandirwa, and Donald Mudadi, while DeMbare’s coach, Genesis Mangombe, who also serves as the new Warriors assistant coach, is set to miss the crucial match.
New Warriors head coach, Baltemar Brito, will guide Highlanders against Caps United in the other quarter-final fixture at Barbourfields Stadium on Sunday.
The friendly match in Gaborone forms part of Botswana’s Independence Day celebrations, and the Warriors squad is expected to depart for Botswana soon.
Mangombe revealed that the club has already submitted a letter to the Premier Soccer League, requesting the postponement of the FC Platinum match. However, they have not received a response yet.
FIFA regulations state that a club is not obliged to fulfill domestic fixtures if three or more of its players are away on international duty.
Mangombe stated, “It’s very unlikely that we will be able to play the Chibuku fixture this weekend because three players and myself will be on national duty. It’s impossible for us to participate in such an important game without key members of the squad.”
The trio of Makarati, Kante, and Mudadi has played pivotal roles in Dynamos’ campaign for the league title this season, contributing to their 1-0 victory over Caps United in the recent Harare derby.
Mangombe emphasized that the club would not prevent the players from representing the national team, saying, “We cannot ask the players to decline international call-ups because we know how significant it is for them to represent their country. This opportunity doesn’t come around often. We will, of course, honor the call for national duty and are kindly requesting that the authorities reschedule the Chibuku game to a later date, even midweek next week would be acceptable to us.”
FC Platinum has eliminated Dynamos in the last two editions of the Chibuku Super Cup, and the competition’s winner earns a spot to represent the country in the CAF Confederations Cup.
Highlanders are also seeking to reschedule their quarter-final clash against Caps United on Sunday, as they also have three players, in addition to coach Brito, in the Warriors squad.
Bosso players in the Warriors squad include defenders Andrew Mbeba and Peter Muduhwa, along with midfielder Brighton Manhire.
Chicken Inn, another quarter-finalist, may also consider postponing their match against Black Rhinos on Saturday, as they will be missing three key players: goalkeeper Donovan Bernard, defender Xolani Ndlovu, and midfielder Shepherd Mhlanga, all representing the national team in Botswana.
In the final quarter-final match, Herentals, with star player Tino Benza in the Warriors squad, will face Ngezi Platinum Stars, who will be without goalkeeper Nelson Chadya and captain Qadr Amini, also set to travel to Gaborone.
Chibuku Super Cup quarter-final matches
Saturday: Chicken Inn v Black Rhinos (Luveve, 1pm), Fc Platinum v Dynamos (Mandava, 3pm)
Sunday: Herentals v Ngezi Platinum Stars (Mandava, 1pm), Highlanders v Caps United (Barbourfields, 3pm)
Source Bulawayo24
