Stuart Baxter linked to Chiefs

Mahlatse Mphahlele The South African Football Association (Safa) and Kaizer Chiefs are working on an intricate plan that could see beleaguered Bafana Bafana coach Stuart Baxter move to the Naturena club in the coming days.

Insiders said yesterday that negotiations were centred on Baxter resigning from his post as coach of the senior national team and returning to Chiefs, where he is expected to replace Steve Komphela.

Chiefs sacked Komphela late last season after three trophyless seasons at the club.

Baxter’s contract with Safa runs until the end of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar but officials do not want to fire him as such a move would lead to a breach of contract and force the sport’s mother body to pay a huge financial settlement to the Briton.

If a deal is concluded between Chiefs supremo Kaizer Motaung‚ who is personally handling the negotiations‚ and Safa president Danny Jordaan‚ Baxter’s contract would be terminated by mutual agreement.

A member of the Safa council said yesterday it had lost faith in Baxter after Bafana were embarrassed by Madagascar in the recent Cosafa Cup in Polokwane, where the South Africans bombed out after their opening match. Baxter’s blushes were spared when a limping Bafana managed to win the largely insignificant Plate final a few days later.

Safa technical committee head Jack Maluleka would not be drawn into commenting on Baxter and his team’s performance in the Cosafa Cup but said it would discuss the issue when the national team coach presented his report.

“We have not decided on the date for the meeting with Baxter, but it is going to be soon‚” he said.

“We want to have the meeting as soon as possible so that we can focus on other programmes.”

Chiefs football manager Bobby Motaung conceded this week that Baxter met the criteria of the coach they were looking for.

If Safa part ways with Baxter as expected‚ Iran coach Carlos Queiroz would emerge as the early favourite to take over the job.

Though Amakhosi have delayed naming their new coach as negotiations with Safa continue‚ they have signed marquee player Khama Billiat‚ Letlhogonolo Mirwa‚ Andriamirado Andrianarimanana and Virgil Vries.

Baxter’s son Lee is the club’s goalkeeper coach.