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Joy Setshedi

Ricky Zililo, Senior Sports Reporter
HIGHLANDERS and Dynamos’ trip to Botswana for an invitational tournament set for Francistown Sports Complex later this month hangs in the balance, with organisers set to release a detailed statement today.

Bosso and DeMbare were invited for the Supa Power Cup also featuring former Botswana champions Mochudi Centre Chiefs and Tafic Sporting Club on July 29.

However, on the day that Highlanders and Dynamos are supposed to play in the tournament organised by Joy Foundation Sports Development, Bosso are scheduled to face Shabanie Mine in the Castle Lager Premiership Match Day 19 in Zvishavane, while DeMbare will be home to Triangle United.

With the domestic PSL season faced with a hectic calendar following an enlarged league, it is unlikely the topflight programme will be disrupted to pave way for Highlanders and Dynamos’ Botswana safari.

The organisers of the Supa Power Cup are using the competition to raise funds for the construction of a grassroots sports facility in Botswana and had settled for July 29 hoping Zimbabwe’s PSL would be on a break.

What further complicates that date is that it also falls outside the Fifa international calendar date.

The next available Fifa international calendar dates are from August 28 to September 5.

Joy Setshedi, the founder of Joy Foundation Sports Development said: “About the dates and other stuff, we will be releasing a press statement in the next day or two. What you must know is that we have clearance from Zifa and we also spoke to the PSL.”

The other option for the organisers is to bring the tournament forward by a week to July 22, as Highlanders and Dynamos will be inactive.

The organisers were planning to have teams and line-ups chosen by fans through a public voting system along the lines of the Carling Black Label Cup that features South African giants Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs.

The teams and line-ups for the Carling Black Label Cup are chosen by Carling Black Label customers, who submit an 11-digit code found on Carling Black Label products and have their vote registered. Customers also choose which substitutions to make in-game by voting via text message.

Dynamos and Highlanders were set to get a percentage of the money generated from the SMSes.

There are a number of Zimbabweans based in Botswana that were likely to watch the two teams playing in that country.

Even football lovers based in Bulawayo and Plumtree were likely to cross the border to watch the two giants in action.

@ZililoR