Baxter’s boys unfazed
RAMA: NOT MUCH DIFFERENCE PLAYING AGAINST NIGERIA’S BIG NAMES
Baxter’s charges to take on Chipolopolo in Rustenburg after returning from Afcon qualifier in Uyo.
Ramahlwe Mphahlele is confident he can help keep out Nigeria’s galaxy of attacking stars, as Bafana Bafana take on the Super Eagles on Saturday in Uyo in their opening 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier.
The Kaizer Chiefs fullback is set for his biggest test of the season so far, it is safe to say, if he plays against Nigeria, with Gernot Rohr’s side boasting plenty of talented forwards, from Manchester City’s Kelechi Iheanacho, to Leicester City’s Ahmed Musa, to Arsenal’s Alex Iwobi.
“It is exciting, but there is not much difference. It is just that they are playing in one of the best leagues (in the world) so you just have to be on high alert, always looking over your shoulder to make sure you contain them. For me it is a challenge one has to accept and I hope it brings the best out of me,” said a cool Mphahlele yesterday, just after Bafana had completed their final training session at Soccer City ahead of their departure for Nigeria.
Not many would give South Africa too much hope of coming home with three points from Uyo, given the quality of opponents they have never beaten in a competitive fixture, and the fact that this is their first game of new head coach Stuart Baxter’s second spell in charge.
“We are preparing very well and we want a positive result in Nigeria,” said Mphahlele, however. “We have a good team, we are working very hard and doing what the coach wants us to do. So we are positive.”
Bafana have overcome most of their injury worries from the start of the week. The only current doubt for the game is striker Kermit Erasmus, who sat out yesterday’s training session with a stomach bug.
“He had a stomach bug, and because of that he has lost a lot of fluids and is getting cramps. He is feeling his hamstring, we don’t know if that is part of the cramp or a hamstring injury … it is a concern,” said Baxter.
The South African Football Association, meanwhile, confirmed yesterday that Bafana would be playing Zambia in a hastily-organised friendly on June 13 at Moruleng Stadium in Rustenburg.
“I would have preferred if it was before (the Nigeria game), in good time ... as a warm-up,” admitted Baxter. “But that was not possible so I am not going to cry about it.”