Bafana mobility key to Baxter’s plans against Seychelles
Ndlovu’s late arrival in camp excused
Bafana Bafana coach Stuart Baxter is pleased with striker Dino Ndlovu despite his late arrival at camp ahead of their 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Seychelles at FNB Stadium on Saturday (3pm).
The China-based Ndlovu was due to arrive late yesterday after his flight from Hong Kong was cancelled on Sunday.
“Dino was very professional; he sent me a picture of the board where it was saying that his flight was cancelled,” Baxter confirmed yesterday after taking the team through their paces at Steyn City School in Fourways, Johannesburg.
“But again we’ve got Percy [Tau] who can play [number] nine and we’ve got the big lad [Lebogang Mothiba], who’s looking very good.
“And I want us to play a very mobile game,” said Baxter.
“We are practising playing in pockets and have the fullbacks high [up the field] and plenty of good movements, which is why I’m training here, because the speed of the ball is higher than if you trained on a heavier pitch.”
Baxter, meanwhile, is happy with the replacements for right-back Thapelo Morena of Mamelodi Sundowns and Orlando Pirates winger Vincent Pule, who were withdrawn due to injury.
Pule was replaced by his club teammate Thembinkosi Lorch and Morena made way for Cape Town City skipper Thamsanqa Mkhize.
“I thought Morena was perfect for this game and he pulled a hamstring. You’ve also got Vincent, who’s got a bad one and the scan showed he’s got damage on his cruciate ligament. So those are two withdrawals that caused a bit of concern, but the lads who re- placed them will fill [the gap].”