AYANDA Patosi's dream of a Bafana Bafana debut against Malawi has been dashed after his Belgian club Lokeren said it would not release him for the fixture.
Patosi received a first international call-up for the game at the Moses Mabhida stadium next Saturday after a fine season in Belgium, where he has emerged as a genuine star of the league.
But such is his importance to his club that Lokeren say they will not release him for the game against Malawi, as they face Darren Keet's Kortrijk next Friday. Lokeren also have a league match against Cercle Brugge on December 26, their last before the winter break, meaning the earliest Patosi could likely link up with the Bafana squad is December 28.
"We will not allow him to go, he is too important for our team," said Lokeren sporting director Willy Reynders. "We need Patosi against Kortrijk."
Lokeren are under no obligation to release Patosi as the match against Malawi falls outside of the Fifa calendar. Teams are only required to release players two weeks before the start of major continental championships, meaning January 5 for the Africa Cup of Nations.
It is a blow for the player, who is trying to convince national team coach Gordon Igesund that he deserves a place in his Nations Cup squad. As Igesund is due to announce his final selection for the tournament on December 30, that would give Patosi just two days in camp at best.
He has scored six goals in 19 starts for Lokeren this season, including a wonder strike that caught the attention of the world.
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