DYNAMOS captain Frank Makarati has expressed disappointment at being dropped from the Warriors squad currently in Botswana for a friendly match this weekend.
The defender, together with Highlanders' Andrew Mbeba, were withdrawn from the senior men’s squad to enable their respective clubs to fulfil the Chibuku Super Cup quarter-final matches also set for the weekend.
DeMbare take on FC Platinum at Mandava Stadium in Zvishavane on Saturday, while Bosso will face Caps United at Barbourfields Stadium in Bulawayo the next day.
The two giants had three players each in the Warriors team and had sought postponement of their respective cup ties.
Fifa rules state that a club is not obliged to fulfil domestic games if three or more of its players are away on international duty.
A compromise deal was struck between the Premier Soccer League and the Warriors technical team led by Baltemar Brito to sacrifice Makarati and Mbeba.
Unheralded Sheasham central defender Thubelihle Jubane was the beneficiary of the duo's withdrawal after he was called to fill in the gap. He was part of the Warriors squad that touched down in Gaborone yesterday.
Makarati, who captained the Warriors in a friendly match against Namibia earlier this month, said he is disappointed for being made a sacrificial lamb.
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“It's disappointing, obviously, because I want to play for the Warriors. It’s every player’s dream to play for the national team,” Makarati said.
The friendly match set for Gaborone on Saturday will form part of Botswana's Independence Day celebrations.
“Playing for the national team gives a player a lot of exposure. But there is nothing I can do now, other than picking myself up and focus on my club's next game against FC Platinum,” he added.
Apart from Makarati, other Dynamos players called in for the Warriors squad included Tanaka “Kante” Shandirwa and Donald Mudadi, while Highlanders had Mbeba, Peter Muduhwa and Brighton Manhire.
Makarati admitted that the absence of Kante and Mudadi for the FC Platinum match would be a huge blow.
The two have been DeMbare's engine this far and were at their best when the Glamour Boys beat Caps United in a league match last weekend.
“We will obviously miss them because they are good players and are doing so well for the team. They deserve to be called to the national team, so we will have to make do without them. Of course, it's a blow but also a chance for other players to come in and shine,” Makarati said.
Kante was also part of the Warriors squad that beat Namibia via a penalty shootout.
Dynamos were booted out of the Chibuku Super Cup by FC Platinum in the last two editions.
On both occasions, a penalty shootout decided the contests.
“It won't happen ... not again,” Makarati vowed. “They cannot beat us in open play, so their best bet is another penalty shootout. We have to avoid that and win this game in regulation time. I'm very confident we are going to win.”
Dynamos, buoyed by their Harare derby win over Caps United on Sunday, will be without coach Genesis Mangombe at Mandava because he is also away with the Warriors as Brito's assistant.
Mangombe's assistant Lloyd “Mablanyo” Chigowe will take charge of Dynamos in Zvishavane.
Highlanders have said they are making plans for Brito and his assistant Antonio Torres to immediately fly back to Harare soon after the Botswana commemorative match.
Torres, who doubles as Brito's translator at Bosso, has also been incorporated into the Warriors fold as the team's fitness and conditioning coach.
From Harare, the two will then connect to Bulawayo and are expected to arrive in the city on time to take charge of their match against Caps on Sunday.
In the other Chibuku Super Cup quarter-finals, Chicken Inn who have goalkeeper Donovan Bernard and defender Xolani Ndlovu in the Warriors squad, take on Black Rhinos at Luveve Stadium on Saturday at 1pm, while Herentals who will be without their talisman Tinotenda Benza due to national team commitments, will clash with Ngezi Platinum Stars in a Sunday early kickoff at Mandava.
Ngezi have Qadr Amini and goalkeeper Nelson Chadya with the Warriors in Gaborone.
Meanwhile, Chicken Inn adminstrator and former Soccer Star of the Year Clemence Matawu has been appointed Warriors team manager to take over from Wellington Mpandare, while Simba Bhora’s Zivanai Kawadza is the team's new goalkeepers’ coach.
Follow Henry on Twitter @henrymhara
