The duo, who were available during the first leg tie played at the National Stadium in Dar es Salaam and Stars notched a precious 1-0 home win, have a tight schedule for their Lubumbashi-based side.
TP Mazembe date Egyptian giants Zamalek in the CAF Champions League encounter at home on June 7, a week after Taifa Stars play in Harare.
The Tanzania Football Federation’s president, Jamal Malinzi, said he has written a letter to the Lubumbashi team to request the duo but with no response todate.
Malinzi said Mazembe have been silent on TFF’s request, an indication that the availability of the players is uncertain todate.
The Stars-Zimbabwe encounter is outside of the FIFA sanctioned international friendlies and Mazembe have all the rights to withhold their players despite TFF’s urgent request.
The duo had a hectic travelling schedule when they played against a Sudanese side just 48 hours before they boarded a flight from Khartoum to Dar es Salaam in time for the Zimbabwe clash.
Serious as they are, TP Mazembe might possibly not release the duo based on the gravity of their preparations against Zamalek.
Samata played a crucial role during last week’s Champions League clash against AS Vita to score the only goal that separated the teams in Lubumbashi.
The last time Samata and Ulimwengu travelled to Dar es Salaam for the Zimbabwe clash, it is believed that the government played a crucial role to convince the TP Mazembe owner and president Moise Katumbi to secure relapse of the duo.
Missing the duo in Harare jeopardizes Taifa Stars chances of beating Zimbabwe at their home soil and should this happen, it might be the end of Tanzania in the run towards winning AFCON berth next year in Morocco.
Stars might beat or draw with Zimbabwe and advance in the qualifier playoffs but this need a hard work and perseverance. The last time Stars featured in the African Nations Cup was in 1980 in Lagos, Nigeria where the hosts won.
SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN
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