Amid the chaos, what surprise will Baxter conjure up against Senegal?
WIN in Polokwane tonight and keep the Russia 2018 dream alive, or face the fruitless exercise of another World Cup game in Dakar on Tuesday.
Despite being faced with this prospect this week, Bafana Bafana coach Stuart Baxter has managed to remain calm in the face of incredible adversity.
A drama-filled week started when the mentor told reporters that goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune and captain Thulani Hlatshwayo were doubtful, before revealing another bombshell: Thulani Serero had asked to be excused from the team camp because he wanted to be guaranteed a start.
Then midfielder Hlompho Kekana had to immediately rush home following the death of a close family member, while the arrival of some of the overseas-based players was delayed.
Baxter has wrestled with that all week, while also concocting a game plan that will sink Group D leaders Senegal at the Peter Mokaba Stadium – the first hurdle before travelling to Dakar for the away match on Tuesday.
“The first thing that the players want is that they should have a coach that they need, not the coach that they get on the day,” Baxter said.
“I have to work through past experience and draw on the things that I’ve learnt.
“I have to make sure I am the coach they need in terms of selection and not walk around looking like I am having a semiheart attack. Have I been in the exact same situation like this? Not really, but I have been in a lot of pressure situations. Big games. Champions League or international games, where you only get one go at it. And we only got one go at the Burkina Faso game and won. That’s remembered.
“And that was a massive game. Without that result and performance, we were not going to be in this situation. But we can’t concentrate more because this means more. That’s not how it works.”
Khune could still be in the starting lineup, but skipper Hlatshwayo was all but ruled out by the coach yesterday morning.
Baxter admitted that all that’s happened in the build-up to tonight’s match has him feeling expectant.
He said: “I think people have enjoyed this. You guys (the press) like it because it gives you something to write about, the fans like it because when they are sitting in the shebeen they have got something to argue about. And in some masochistic way, I think even the players enjoy it. Maybe they think we have to go through this before we settle.
“I am the only one who doesn’t seem to like it...”
A win will certainly give Bafana hope that they can reach the World Cup in Russia next year, especially after all hope was lost two months ago following a shambolic performance in Praia against Cape Verde and in the home leg in Durban against the same team.
Those back-to-back defeats (by a 2-1 scoreline in both) left Bafana’s hopes hanging by the thinnest of threads.
Baxter had a surprise element in store for Burkina Faso in last month’s emphatic 3-1 victory at the Calabash, and he’s certainly been forced to come up with one for tonight’s match, partly because of injuries, suspensions and Serero’s shock withdrawal from the team.
“What happens with all this ‘drama’ is that you lose focus on the things that will actually win us the game.
“You are out there trying to put things back into place,” Baxter said. “The only thing you need to try and do is make sure you have a basic focus and attitude of wanting to keep your mind on the job.”
@superjourno