17 Jul 2014

Confederation of African Football (CAF) media manager has revealed that the weekend AFCON qualifiers are not on the FIFA as was the case with the first round matches.

Eric Mwanza said the group phase matches will all be played on the FIFA international dates. He said CAF had encouraged nations engaged in the preliminary qualifiers to negotiate with clubs for the release of players required for the games.

Meanwhile, Bloemfontein Celtics of South Africa are said to be reluctant to release Joel Mogorosi and Mogogi Gabonamong. Information from South Africa suggests that Celtics would be playing a pre-season tournament this weekend.

However Zebras coach, Peter Butler said he needed the players to bolster his squad against Guinea Bissau on July 19.

He said the technical team would be forced have to come up with another alternative; “we had already made a game plan but this issue is beyond our control,” he said.

Botswana Football Association (BFA) chief executive officer, Keith Masters said Celtics were not to blame because the game was outside the FIFA calendar. He said BFA was considering to contact CAF to register their displeasure of fixturing the games outside the FIFA calendar.

Meanwhile, Football Association of Malawi (FAM) has reportedly required CAF to intervene in their matter between Celtics to release their two crucial players, Limbikani Mzava and Frank ‘Gabadinho’ Mhango.

However, Malawian newspaper: Nation quoted Celtics’ technical director, Mich d’ Avray saying that they would not change their stand because they were also preparing for the MTN8 tournament scheduled for August 2.

“There have been many discussions, debates, arguments and counter-arguments over the issue, but the bottom line is that we are also planning ahead and the two happen to be our key players. Releasing them will be disruptive.

“The coming weekend does not fall under the Fifa calendar and a club has the right to say no, but we would not say no for the sake of it, but then the technical staff feels if we are to have good preparations for the new season, in particular the MTN8 tournament, then that is the way we should proceed,” he said. ENDS