Baxter will battle on

BAFANA COACH: IT HAS NEVER BEEN IN MY NATURE TO GIVE UP THE FIGHT

He has exhorted his players to prove a point in next match.

It is not written in stone, but both Safa and Stuart Baxter confidently expected Bafana Bafana to qualify for next year’s World Cup finals when the coach’s contract was formalised just four months ago.

This was confirmed yesterday by the straight-talking Baxter, who further added “you can say the same for the African Nations Cup finals in 2019 as well”.

But while the World Cup segment of the dream now appears all but shattered – Bafana have to win all three qualifying games against Senegal (twice) and the one against Burkina Faso at FNB Stadium in two weeks time to have any chance of making it to Russia – Baxter says it is not in his nature to give up the fight before the final whistle.

“No one, but no one, expected us to surrender six points in the two qualifying games against the Cape Verde Islands,” said the Bafana coach. “Then when we were figuratively groggy from this eventuality, Fifa delivered another hefty blow with the decision that our 2-1 win against Senegal had to be replayed because of the perceived manipulations of lifebanned referee Joseph Lamptey.

“But,” added Baxter, “I’ll be looking at each remaining game as a challenge one-at-a-time while the World Cup hope is still alive and I hope each and every player will be doing the same”.

As for the controversy that has emerged as a result of a number of Bafana players having a night on the town in Durban following the second successive 2-1 defeat against the Cape Verde Islands – and then continuing the party at the players’ hotel – Baxter agreed it was not in keeping with the professionalism and responsibility of representing a country.

“But,” he added, “I think the entire episode has been magnified out of all proportion, with some facts distorted in the media and unfair on some of the players.

“Also you cannot say the players involved did not care or appreciate the immensity or implications of the Cape Verde result. Sometimes those involved in a major setback are not able to handle grief and disappointment and seek a diversion to see them through their crisis.

“Remember too these indiscretions took place after the Moses Mabhida Stadium game and did not affect performances.

“For all this,” concluded Baxter. “I expect a greater degree of professionalism from my players on and off the pitch and I have told them as much.

“The challenge now facing them is to prove the point against Burkina Faso.”