Safa scores own goal by not blocking Baxter’s arrogance
Stuart Baxter has seemingly dispensed with pretences and he has now pretty much told the nation to go fly a kite after deciding to appoint his son to the Bafana Bafana technical team this week.
Baxter named his son Lee as Bafana goalkeeper coach on Monday in a brazen act reminiscent of the infamous midnight cabinet reshuffles that were a hallmark of former president Jacob Zuma’s regime.
The younger Baxter stepped in as replacement for Andre Arendse, the veteran who pulled out of the Bafana camp due to family commitments ahead of Saturday’s 2018 Africa Nations Cup qualifier against Libya in Durban. But how in the blazes did the SA Football Association (Safa) agree to such a public relations own goal?
How could the folks at Safa House not have foreseen that the idea of a Bafana coach appointing his own son to the technical staff would attract an avalanche of negativity?
And, predictably, the reaction from the public was swift and furious on social media and on radio stations. Incredibly, Baxter still does not understand what the fuss is all about.
In a country that is still coming to grips with the full extent of the corruption, the sickening nepotism, the cronyism, the jobs for pals and the shameless favouritism that ran amok under Zuma, Baxter still does not understand what the fuss is all about.
The Briton is seemingly oblivious to the anger that has followed deputy chief justice Raymond Zondo’s state capture inquiry as it continues to unravel the putrid stench of corruption that has marked the past few years of our government.
But please don’t take my word for it. Listen to the man in his own words and allow him to take you into his thought process. He faced the media in Durban on Monday and it truly boggles the mind just how ignorant he is to the raging inferno he has ignited by appointing his son.
“I have to say that I will be massively both disappointed and surprised if there is any reaction whatsoever [to Lee Baxter’s appointment],” he said to an incredulous gallery.
“Because Andre pulls out at the last minute, and Lee is the most qualified goalkeeper coach in the country, bar none.
“Lee has worked with me in Turkey and at SuperSport, with