BOTSWANA'S national team coach Peter Butler has hit out at Bloemfontein Celtic's German coach Ernst Middendorp for snubbing his plea to have Zebras captain Joel Mogorosi and Mogogi Gabonamong released for national duty.
Middendorp refused to release the duo for their country's important Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) qualifier against Guinea-Bissau on Saturday in Gaborone.
Butler has described Middendorp as rude, arrogant and unprofessional.
"I approached him personally, he put the phone down on me," said Butler. "He sent me a rather rude [text] message saying I should talk to management, which I thought was unprofessional."
Middendorp's reason for refusing to release the players was that the game fell outside sanctioned Fifa dates.
He also rejected Malawi's request to have Frank Mhango and Limbikani Mzava for the Flames' clash against Benin.
Middendorp used the Botswana duo in the inaugural e.tv Charity Showdown against Bidvest Wits in Johannesburg on the same day instead. Ironically, Phunya SeleSele won the pre-season tie, courtesy of a solitary goal by Gabonamong.
An annoyed Butler could not hide his frustrations and said: "I have worked hard to persuade these players, especially Mogogi, to come and play for the national team."
Gabonamong had initially refused to play for Butler after a rather late call-up ahead of their first-round Afcon qualifier against Burundi in May.
The former Santos and SuperSport man eventually agreed after some dialogue with the Briton.
"Obviously, they are as disappointed as the rest of us here because they wanted to fight for their country ... but thanks to Middendorp's arrogance they will not," he said.
Butler said he had resigned himself to doing without his two key players in the second-leg tie on August 2, which also falls outside the Fifa dates.
"It doesn't look like we will have them, I've resigned myself to not getting them," Butler said.
While Celtic played the employer card, fellow Premier Soccer League side Platinum Stars released two players - Mogakolodi Ngele and Kabelo Dambe - without any hustle.
But the Briton accepted he may also have to do without the Stars duo, who were outstanding on Saturday, in the return leg.
Dikwena have indicated they needed the players for their pre- season preparations.
Botswana travel to Guinea-Bissau carrying a 2-0 lead after their home win and will be hoping to finish off their opponents at their own backyard.
Butler slams Middendorp
BOTSWANA'S national team coach Peter Butler has hit out at Bloemfontein Celtic's German coach Ernst Middendorp for snubbing his plea to have Zebras captain Joel Mogorosi and Mogogi Gabonamong released for national duty.
Middendorp refused to release the duo for their country's important Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) qualifier against Guinea-Bissau on Saturday in Gaborone.
Butler has described Middendorp as rude, arrogant and unprofessional.
"I approached him personally, he put the phone down on me," said Butler. "He sent me a rather rude [text] message saying I should talk to management, which I thought was unprofessional."
Middendorp's reason for refusing to release the players was that the game fell outside sanctioned Fifa dates.
He also rejected Malawi's request to have Frank Mhango and Limbikani Mzava for the Flames' clash against Benin.
Middendorp used the Botswana duo in the inaugural e.tv Charity Showdown against Bidvest Wits in Johannesburg on the same day instead. Ironically, Phunya SeleSele won the pre-season tie, courtesy of a solitary goal by Gabonamong.
An annoyed Butler could not hide his frustrations and said: "I have worked hard to persuade these players, especially Mogogi, to come and play for the national team."
Gabonamong had initially refused to play for Butler after a rather late call-up ahead of their first-round Afcon qualifier against Burundi in May.
The former Santos and SuperSport man eventually agreed after some dialogue with the Briton.
"Obviously, they are as disappointed as the rest of us here because they wanted to fight for their country ... but thanks to Middendorp's arrogance they will not," he said.
Butler said he had resigned himself to doing without his two key players in the second-leg tie on August 2, which also falls outside the Fifa dates.
"It doesn't look like we will have them, I've resigned myself to not getting them," Butler said.
While Celtic played the employer card, fellow Premier Soccer League side Platinum Stars released two players - Mogakolodi Ngele and Kabelo Dambe - without any hustle.
But the Briton accepted he may also have to do without the Stars duo, who were outstanding on Saturday, in the return leg.
Dikwena have indicated they needed the players for their pre- season preparations.
Botswana travel to Guinea-Bissau carrying a 2-0 lead after their home win and will be hoping to finish off their opponents at their own backyard.
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