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The players were supposed to assemble at 11am at Zifa Headquarters yesterday morning in the capital ahead of their departure for the training camp in Bulawayo.
Mapeza said he would now be left with no option but to revise his squad which has also been affected by the fact that the match falls outside the Fifa dates.
“Some of our guys, like Germany-based Knowledge Musona and Ovidy Karuru (based in France), have had to fly back to their bases while Zhaimu Jambo is injured,” said Mapeza.
He said as a result the team could not leave the capital but was most likely going to make the trip today, as they did not want to travel at night.
Players that did not respond to the national team call-up are the South Africa-based contingent of Thomas Sweswe, Tinashe Nengomasha and Willard Katsande, who all play for South African giants Kaizer Chiefs, and AmaZulu’s Carlington Nyadombo, although his teammates Tapuwa Kapini and Ramson Zhuwawo jetted into the country yesterday.
Mamelodi Sundowns’ Nyasha Mushekwi, Ajax Cape Town’s Tafadzwa Rusike, Netherlands-bound Khama Billiat and Edward Sadomba, who plies his trade at Sudanese outfit Al Hilal, also did not make it.
Also failing to make it was the Belgium-based Vusa Nyoni who plays for Germinal Beerschot in that country’s Jupiler League.
“Right now we only have got 12 players and obviously we might have to call in some replacements, Qadr Amin has since replaced the injured Jambo,” said Mapeza.
The former DT Africa and Galatasaray player might now be forced to fall back on the players that he had discarded, mostly those who took part in the disastrous Council for East and Central Africa Football Associations in Tanzania. He could also add credibility to the list of players selected by scribes and coaches among the 11 Soccer Stars of the Year finalists for 2011 if he considers them as well.
With three defenders already out, FC Platinum’s Zephaniah Ngodzo, Hwange’s Gerald Ndlovu and Highlanders’ Innocent Mapuranga might get a late call-up while in the crucial midfield area that now has five players out, Gunners’ Cliff Sekete, FC Platinum’s Ntokozo Tshuma and Bosso’s Eric Mudzingwa are some of the players Mapeza might want to have a look at.
Upfront, the duo of FC Platinum’s Charles Sibanda and Donald Ngoma will now come into the picture.
The match has always been dogged by controversy with Football Association of Zambia president Kalusha Bwalya standing accused of trying to hijack the game only for Botswana to flatly refuse.
Warriors’ players in camp as of yesterday:
Tapiwa Kapini, Washington Arubi, George Chigova, Tapuwa Khumbuyani, Gilbert Mapemba, Llyod Zvasiya, Daniel Vheremu, Qadr Amin, Denver Mukamba, Joel Ngodzo, Cuthbert Malajila.
Online Reporter