Dirang withdraws from Zebras squad

THATO KALA
Correspondent | Friday August 10, 2012 00:00

 

In addition to chief striker, Jerome 'JJ' Ramatlhakwana who was for the first time omitted from the provisional squad, 'returnee' Dirang Moloi has pulled out citing his mother's ill-health.His Mochudi Centre Chiefs teammate Keaketswe 'Mara' Moloi and Gaborone United defender Musa Ohilwe are also out due to injury.But it is Dirang's withdrawal that raises eyebrows. He last represented the country during the 2012 AFCON campaign. The recent call-up looked to usher in a fresh international career start for the former Notwane and Vasco da Gama star.'I cannot complain about anything so far, preparations are well on course. Perhaps the only challenge is that Dirang did not come for camp because he said his mother is not feeling well.

Musa and Mara are also injured,' Zebras coach Stanley Tshosane told Mmegi Sport.He added that the absence of Mara, the Be Mobile Premier League Player of the Season, looks a heavy blow especially with Ramatlhakwana also ruled out. Mara has four caps and could have been an ideal replacement for the man nicknamed JJ.'I'm told JJ is in Gaborone but he has not been responding to my calls so it's not clear whether he wants to be part of the team or not,' Tshosane said.He is keeping his fingers crossed that the injured pair would have recovered by the time the team leaves for the final camp in Nairobi, Kenya.

The team leaves for Nairobi on August 19, but before that they will spend a week in Potchefstroom, South Africa.After Nairobi, the team will head off to Mali for the first leg of the qualifier. The return leg will be played in Gaborone in October.Tshosane admits that the Mali tie is critical and will need his charges to put up a potent fight in Bamako.The winner of the two-legged qualifier progresses to the finals to be played in South Africa next January.