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Johannesburg - 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 friendly, according to a Sowetan report.
Patosi received a first international call-up for the game at the Moses Mabhida Stadium on December 22 after a fine season in Belgium, where he has emerged as a genuine star of the league.
Patosi received a first international call-up for the game at the Moses Mabhida Stadium on December 22 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 as they face Darren Keet's Kortrijk on December 21.
Lokeren also have a league match against Cercle Brugge on December 26, their last before the winter break, meaning the earliest he could likely link up with the Bafana squad is on 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 match calendar.
