Bafana are not out of it – just yet
playing Burkina Faso, they will face Senegal in November after Fifa ordered a replay of SA’s 2-1 win in Polokwane last year.
Ghanaian referee Joseph Lamptey has been banned for life after “manipulating” the match. Bafana will end their campaign with another match against Senegal in Dakar the same month.
“The confidence has taken a smack [after the defeats against Cape Verde] and one of the things we have to do is bring that confidence back. That’s the first thing we have to do on the camp,” Baxter added.
Meanwhile, Baxter has promised to crack the whip on players who misbehave while in national team camp.
It has been alleged that Bongani Zungu and Kamohelo Mokotjo had a party at the team’s hotel in Durban after the 2-1 loss to Cape Verde, but both players are in the squad to play Burkina Faso in a 2018 World Cup qualifier on October 7.
Baxter admitted that something of that nature did indeed take place, but claimed that it wasn’t as bad as reported and that probably explains why the duo made the squad again.
Moving forward, though, Baxter explained that this sort of thing will not be happening when Bafana are in camp.
“I’ve had 10 sessions with this group, so allow me more time with them and I will make sure that the players that represent the country don’t think it’s acceptable to overstep the mark,” Baxter said yesterday before announcing his squad.
Even though he didn’t confirm the names of the culprits because he doesn’t want to be seen to be hanging them out to dry, Baxter felt compelled to protect Zungu.
“It was totally inaccurate to name Bongani Zungu as the ringleader in anything that happened. On a scale of nought to 10, Bongani was involved in a two or three and there were others that were pretty much more [involved],” he said.
“So I will take care of that. Bongani... I’ve already taken care of that and you have to understand his club [Amiens SC] are contemplating massive fines. They are hugely unhappy reading that one of their players was the ringleader when he’s not,” Baxter continued.
He added that he’s going to resolve the matter speedily, while calling on the media to not exaggerate in reporting these matters.
“When everyone gets to camp [on October 1], anybody that was involved in this will know very, very clearly my thoughts on it.
“I’m going to need help with that and what doesn’t help is people making up stories that are hugely ina It doesn’t help the country and doesn’t help me trying to make the national team a more focused unit,” he added. The Bafana squad: Goalkeepers: Khune, Williams
Defenders: Gould, Mathoho, Frosler, Mkhize, Hlanti, Hlatshwayo, Langerman, Daniels
Midfielders: Jali, Kekana, Zungu, Mokotjo, Vilakazi, Zwane, Dolly, Serero
Strikers: Mahlambi, Mothiba, Manyama, Grobler, Ndlovu, Tau. Sandilands,