SuperSport come out fighting over Baxter-Bafana link

STUART Baxter has seemingly moved closer to a return to Bafana Bafana after outspoken SuperSport United chairman Khulu Sibiya let slip that he’s doing everything in his power to prevent the Briton from returning to the coaching job he left 12 years ago.

A candid Sibiya, who has never been afraid to speak his mind, disclosed that it’s come to his attention that Safa officials are circling around Baxter and if it turns out he is actually interested in replacing sacked Bafana coach Ephraim “Shakes” Mashaba, the Briton will not be allowed to simply walk out of United without a fight.

“[SuperSport United CEO Stan Matthews] said to me, ‘Chair’ I believe that they [Safa] have made overtures to Stuart Baxter,” Sibiya said.

“I said ‘Oh really, and what is Stuart saying?’

“He [Matthews] said ‘no chairman, there is no way Stuart is going to go back there, no way’. I then said ‘did he give you the reason why?’

“He said ‘no, no, no, he said he is comfortable at SuperSport. In fact, he had an “experience” with the Bafana Bafana job and it was not a good experience. So he cannot go back there and he is happy at SuperSport.

“That was my conversation Stan.”

Safa CEO Dennis Mumble told the Daily Dispatch yesterday afternoon he had not spoken to any coach, including Baxter, and said he had nothing to add to Sibiya’s claims.

“We have nothing to say about this with because we have not spoken to anyone about the Bafana job,” said Mumble.

“Up until now we have not engaged anyone and neither has the Safa president Danny Jordaan.

“I have not seen Baxter since he left Kaizer Chiefs and I only saw him on Saturday in Sandton [at the 10-year celebration of the PSL’s sponsorship relationship with SuperSport] when I walked past his table.

“I shook his hand just as I shook [former Bafana coach and Mamelodi Sundowns coach] Pitso Mosimane’s hand, who is also a good friend.

That was the extent of my interaction with Stuart.”

The Bafana job has been vacant since last month after Safa fired Mashaba for a litany of indiscretions, including insubordination and bringing his employers into disrepute, among others.

Mashaba is challenging his dismissal at the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration and his case will come up for review on February 7.

Sibiya remained adamant and said should Safa persist with appointing Baxter to the Bafana job, he would not allow the Briton to return without a fight.

“If Baxter says he wants to go back, I will say he is not going anywhere. He is not going anywhere! “That much I am assured of.” But when told that no club can stop a coach from coaching a national team if he has clause in his contract that releases him, Sibiya toned down the rhetoric and said there was very little he could do should Baxter decides he wants the Bafana job.

“If he says he wants to go anywhere, then we will have to release him.

“You cannot keep a person who does not want to be here. But personally and honestly, I would want Baxter to stay on at SuperSport.

“[But] that guy has changed my team around man.”

Safa hope to appoint a new coach by March when Bafana play their first match of the year, a friendly international.