ZIMBABWE football giants Dynamos took the country by surprise after announcing a sabbatical from the African Safari in 2015.
FC Platinum are the only country representatives in the Confederation Cup after winning the Chibuku Super Cup in November.
The Harare giants’ move means the nation will see Champions League action in 2016.
Dynamos chairman Kenny Mubaiwa dropped the bombshell last week that the Glamour Boys will not be part of the African Safari as financial woes continue to dog the club.
The club’s principal sponsor made a U-turn on the African Safari sponsorship after promising to bankroll the Zimbabwean champions earlier in March during the unveiling of the 2014 soccer-kit.
Sad for Zimbabwean football that a club like Dynamos with its rating in Africa and the world over fails to show up in the African Safari.
ZPC Kariba were offered the slot, but declined the offer.
Zimbabwe now has one slot for the Champions League.
The performance by Zimbabwean teams guarantees the number of teams that participate in the African Safari.
Soccer fans in the country have been starved of continental action this year after Dynamos and How Mine crashed early out of the Champions League and Confederation Cup respectively.
Playing in the African Safari helps Zimbabwe to assess its soccer standards.
The national team has failed in Africa and it means the only action Zimbabweans can see will be in the Confederation Cup where FC Platinum hope to fly the national flag high.
The last time the Zvishavane-based miners participated in the African Safari was in 2012.
The platinum miners had a strong line up with a host of good players, but that did not translate into the field.
FC Platinum was powered by Donald Ngoma, Charles Sibanda, Tafadzwa Dube on goal, Norman Togara, Daniel Veremu, Zephania and Joel Ngodzo, among others.
Under the tutelage of Rahman Gumbo and assisted by Tendai Chikuni, the team crashed out in the second round of the club competition.
They had managed to beat Green Mamba of Swaziland before they were eliminated by Sudanese side El Merreikh.
Back in the capital, Dynamos have disappointed their multitude of fans with a last minute withdrawal from the prestigious African Safari.
Of late the Glamour Boys have been failing in the continental competition.
They have not reached the money-spinning mini-league phase for the past three years.
Former coach Kalisto Pasuwa had managed to deliver glory to the club at a local level, but failed on African assignments.
Zimbabweans now pin their hope on FC Platinum under the tutelage of Norman Mapeza.
The platinum miners might be playing away from home as Zvishavane have no hotel of the desired standard to accommodate visiting teams.
In 2012, FC Platinum had to play in the capital as CAF recommends that visiting teams should not travel long distances by road from the airport.