Give blame game the boot

IT is one of the vagaries of the sport that when things don’t run right administrators, club bosses and players so often tend to play the blame game.

Too often those who fail pin blame at someone else’s door.

This time it is the media who put words in Bafana Bafana coach Stuart Baxter’s mouth – if SA Football Association president Danny Jordaan is to be believed.

Recently Baxter apparently said he would resign from his position if Bafana fail to live up to their promise and qualify for the Africa Cup of Nations tournament in June this year.

He even said he would walk away if that is what Safa wanted and to boot he would do so without being paid for the rest of his contract.

He has a mandate to ensure qualification for the Nations Cup and to compete in the Finals.

The national team will be facing Libya in a do-or-die group qualification match at a venue still to be decided next month.

Bafana have nine points, while Libya are on seven and both need a win to advance to the finals.

South Africa just need a draw to make the cut, but there is no guarantee that will be the case as Bafana have not set the scene alight with their performances over the years.

Baxter may be hedging his bets on the perception that his men may slip up badly, particularly as they will be playing away and the South Africans always find it difficult to play under the rather harrowing conditions on the continent.

It is well documented the passionate home support is daunting and in most instances it has stymied the best laid plans by coaches.

So does Baxter see the writing on the wall?

Does he really have no faith in this group of players?

When asked about Baxter’s statements, Jordaan stated categorically that the coach denied saying it.

When the reporters pointed to recordings that Baxter was quoted correctly Jordaan stood firm and said the coach denied all that.

Surely, if your national coach is intending to leave a sinking ship then you as the captain should call him to order.

It is demoralising on so many fronts, chiefly on the psychological front for the players.

You will need them to physically and mentally be prepared to go to war for the cause.

But what does this say about Baxter’s supposed denial – and Jordaan’s insistence the media made it all up.

South Africans want Bafana to be at Nations Cup, but this episode at Safa level does not help in the least.

This time it is the media who put words in Bafana coach Baxter’s mouth – if Danny Jordaan is to be believed