Fortune could scout and coach
Stuart Baxter says Quinton Fortune (above) could be employed in a dual role by Bafana Bafana – as an assistant coach and in scouting players overseas.
Fortune attended Bafana’s training at FNB Stadium yesterday, ahead of South Africa’s African Nations Championship final qualifier against Zambia in Ndola tomorrow.
Like Baxter, however, the former Manchester United and Bafana midfielder will not travel to Zambia, and will instead help Baxter watch players at this weekend’s opening Absa Premiership games.
Bafana assistant coach Thabo Senong will take charge of the team in Zambia, while Baxter will watch tonight’s game between Wits and Cape Town City, and tomorrow’s Tshwane derby between SuperSport United and Sundowns. The Bafana head coach will announce his squad on Monday for World Cup qualifiers against Cape Verde next month.
It could be that Fortune is on the bench with Baxter for those Cape Verde games.
“There are quite a few candidates and Quinton is one, we thought we would bring him in so he can look at what we are doing and we can speak to him and see if there is a scenario where he could be advantageous to us,” said Baxter.
“The plus for him is that he is based over there (in England), and could look at a few foreign-based players for us, it could be a bit of a 50-50 role but we need to discuss that. We need to see if this is a road we can walk together. It is not permanent, it is temporary until such time as we all agree this is what we should do.”
Fortune himself added that he was very excited about the possibility of helping Bafana Bafana.
“Stuart spoke to me a couple of weeks ago and at first I was taken aback, so it was with a lot of excitement when he told me and I just couldn’t wait to get going because it is something I have been dreaming about for years as I know the potential we have in this country. I have said for years that when we do things the right way we can achieve amazing things,” he said in a Safa statement.
Baxter also said Fortune could be involved in coaching the South African Under-23 team when they begin preparations for the next Olympic Games.