Vasco de Gama are expecting to hear some good news today regarding the availability of in-form Botswana striker Jerome “JJ” Ramatlhakwane.
It would certainly be awelcome boost for the Parow-based PSL club, the only Cape side still alive in the lucrative Nedbank Cup.
On Saturday afternoon, in Rustenburg, Vasco take on Platinum Stars in the last 16 of the competition – and they are hoping to have Ramatlhakwane in the starting XI.
Ramatlhakwane is on loan to Vasco from Santos, a move he had been trying to secure for some time. Always, though, negotiations would break down and the Botswana star would be left kicking his heels on the sidelines as he was considered surplus to requirements at Santos.
Nevertheless, despite being ignored by Santos, he has continued to impress for his country and it is on the back of his goals for Botswana that the small African state has qualified for the African Cup of Nations for the first time in their history.
His goal against Chad over the weekend took the team knowns as the Zebras to the Nations Cup finals, which will be jointly hosted by Gabon and Equatorial Guinea in 2012 – and, right now, he is the toast of all of Botswana.
Yet, as popular as he is in his own country, he cannot seem to get on the field in South Africa.
Nothing much happened at Santos and, now, at Vasco, his work permit documentation has caused another snag.
Vasco team manager Kenny Gertse takes up the story: “At the moment, we are waiting on word from home affairs. Initially the main issue was that his passport had expired. He was told to get a new one in Botswana. Before he could do that, however, there was the trip to Chad for that important Nations Cup qualifier.
“In fact, even there he had problems as he couldn’t travel with the expired passport. So, rather than issue a new one, considering the urgency of getting him to Chad, Botswana’s home affairs extended his passport by a further six months.
“In the meantime,” added Gertse, “we will use this same passport extension to get him registered. Everything as far as paperwork has already been submitted with home affairs and we are expecting to hear from them today. As soon as we have the go-ahead, the work permit will be faxed to the PSL offices, and JJ will be registered as a PSL player.
“We are confident that we can get him on the field for the Platinum game on Saturday.”
Vasco could definitely do with a striker of Ramatlhakwane’s calibre. Too often this season, they have relied too much on veteran striker Sibusiso Zuma and it’s obvious they need someone to relieve some of the pressure.
It has been a frustrating time at Santos and Ramatlhakwane is eager to prove he can transfer his international form to the domestic game.
“I’m really lookin forward to playing for Vasco,” said Ramatlhakwane. “They have helped me a lot and I hope I can add value to their team.”
As for Botswana’s qualification for the Nations Cup, a self-effacing Ramatlhakwane paid tribute to his teammates and the support of his country.
“There was no secret to what Botswana achieved,” he said. “It was about hard work and a bit of luck in some of the games. My success in attack has been down to the support of my teammates and the technical team. The people of Botswana should enjoy this history-making moment. But, for the players and the coaches, we now have to double our efforts so that we have a good tournament in 2012.”
Before that, though, Vasco want Ramatlhakwane to hit the back of the net with the same regularity he does for Botswana as they seek to survive the PSL - and fashion a good run in the Nedbank Cup.