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.
