Baxter hails willingness of PSL clubs

THOUGH his squad is made up of fringe, uncapped and young players, Bafana Bafana coach Stuart Baxter has praised clubs’ willingness to release players for their Chan qualifier against Botswana on Saturday at Francistown Stadium (kick-off 3.30pm).

Baxter announced his 23-man squad for the two-legged fixture against the Zebras yesterday. They will travel to Francistown tomorrow for the first leg. The return leg will be on July 22 at the Moruleng Stadium.

“The clubs have been as cooperative as I would be if I was a coach [at club level]. Some of the clubs have helped us out and some have pulled the players out but I cannot blame them. It is going to be interesting because it is a mixture again of the U20s and a few younger PSL players who are not regulars,’’ said Baxter.

“We are well aware that this qualifier comes at a time when most players are on holiday, or clubs have just returned for their pre-season training, and for that we are grateful.”

However, the coach also admitted that the assembling of the squad has not been easy because of the uncertainty around Lehlogonolo Masalesa’s future.

“We have Vieira [Masalesa] who we thought was unselectable because he was a foreign [based] player but now he is out of contract [at his Greek club Athlitiki Enosi Larissa] and we got an okay for it but now I want a confirmation of that before we say he is a definite member of the squad.”

Squad: Goalkeepers: Boalefa Pule, Khulekani Kubheka and Stephen Hoffman

Defenders: Siyabonga Nhlapo, Sphiwe Mnguni Malebogo Modise, Tercius Malepe, Junaid Sait, Sandile Mthethwa and Mothobi Mvala.

Midfielders: Teboho Mokoena, Sipho Mbule, Cole Alexander, Lehlogonolo Masalesa, Sphelele Ntshangase, Jamie Webber and Riyaad Norodien.

Strikers: Gift Bonginkosi Ntuli Moon. Motupe, and Ryan