Baxter backs SA’s swanky training pitch
Steyn City choice raises eyebrows
Bafana Bafana’s use of the fields of the school that services the luxury Steyn City housing estate as a training venue this week ahead of their Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Seychelles has raised eyebrows.
However, coach Stuart Baxter has said the fields were the best Bafana could find from a technical aspect to match the fast movement of the ball SA will try to employ on Saturday at FNB Stadium.
Steyn City‚ just north of affluent Fourways‚ is one of Johannesburg’s most expensive housing estates.
Properties can range in price from a two-bedroom apartment at R3-million to a five-bedroom house for R25-million.
The coach appeared irritated by the question of why Steyn City had been chosen when Johannesburg has many soccer pitches with quality surfaces.
“The surface is the best that we can get. I’ve asked them to water it so it’s fast‚ and I want to play a fast game against Seychelles because they may not be able to keep up with that tempo‚” Baxter said.
On the message that training at affluent Steyn City might send out‚ Baxter said: “About taking the game to the people‚ I haven’t really got a clue what that is.
“This is a national training before an international game. We’re not thinking about playing politics.
“So taking the game to the people? Well of course we can. We can go and train in the townships on a bad pitch‚ and then we can have lots of people who think we’re very clever.
“But then when we lose the game they won’t be very kind to us at all.”
The choice of Steyn City School may have raised eyebrows but the facility‚ and especially the pristine pitch‚ is world-class.
Groups of young primary school children had gathered on the banks overlooking Bafana’s training field to watch their sessions.
The school’s operations manager‚ George Cockeran‚ said the choice of their field was an honour and a boost to the profile of the new institution‚ which opened its doors in January. “Soccer is probably our main sport at present‚” Cockeran said.