Downs have quality to do it – Bax
Brazilians can shake up opposition in Japan Stuart to turn new page on his cup record
SUPERSPORT United coach Stuart Baxter‚ who coached in Japan‚ says if he were a betting man he would have a punt on Mamelodi Sundowns beating Kashima Antlers at the Fifa Club World Cup.
Baxter’s Kiwi right-back Michael Boxall said the same if Downs have to meet his old team‚ Auckland City‚ in Sunday’s Club World Cup (CWC) quarterfinal in Osaka.
Sundowns meet the winners of a playoff today (12.30pm SA time) between host team Antlers and Oceania champions City in Sunday’s quarterfinal.
Baxter‚ who has an intimate knowledge of Japanese football having coached Sanfrecce Hiroshima and Vissel Kobe in the JLeague in the 1990s‚ and Kobe again in the J2 League in 2006‚ said he would favour Sundowns to beat Antlers.
“Antlers have fanatical support. They’ve got Brazilian roots‚ because Zico was the coach there for a long time. He still has some sort of honorary presidential role‚” Baxter said yesterday.
“When I coached in Japan Antlers had Bismarck‚ Leonardo‚ Mazinho – I think four of the 1990 Brazilian World Cup-winning team.
“So they have Brazilian roots and they want to play – which is good for Sundowns.
“They do play quick because the Japanese players are all decently mobile.
“But if you were asking me – and I’m not a betting man – but if I were going to put some money on‚ I’d have a little bet on Sundowns.
“Because I think Sundowns are organised enough‚ and I don’t think they’d be upset if it was a bit of a Brazilian-style game. I think they’ll enjoy that more than if it was a very structured game‚ where Antlers are hitting balls behind their back four and penetrating them.
“This is going to be a game that’s going to be a bit South African. I think Sundowns in this one have got a real chance.”
Brazilian 1980s great Zico played for Antlers in the early 1990s and coached them in the team’s formative years in the 1990s‚ soon after the establishment of the J-League in 1993.
They qualified for this CWC as hosts by winning the J-League for the eighth time on Saturday.
Boxall‚ who played for Auckland City in the mid-2000s‚ admitted the New Zealand club will struggle to beat Antlers‚ let alone Sundowns‚ but warned of the Kiwi underdogs’ fighting spirit.
“Obviously Sundowns in the last 16 months have been the best team in South Africa and the best team in Africa‚” said Boxall.
“They’ve got such quality players all over the park. Auckland City are a semi-professional‚ almost amateur‚ team.
“They’re still very organised. They came third in the CWC in 2014‚ so they’ve got the ability to surprise people.
“So hopefully they can surprise Sundowns. But I think Sundowns will be too strong.
“They shouldn’t beat Antlers on Thursday‚ but I love an underdog and City have shown they can rise to the occasion.” — TMG Digital STUART Baxter has thought about the personal achievement of becoming only the second coach in South Africa to win every domestic trophy on offer‚ he said ahead of the Telkom Knockout final.
SuperSport United coach Baxter would join Mamelodi Sundowns coach Pitso Mosimane in the feat should his side beat Cape Town City in Saturday’s Telkom Knockout final in Polokwane (kickoff‚ 6pm).
Baxter won the league twice as coach of Kaizer Chiefs from 2012 to 2015‚ plus the Nedbank Cup and MTN8.
He added a second Nedbank winner’s medal when SuperSport beat Orlando Pirates in the 2015-16 final in Polokwane.
Asked about this final being‚ personally for the coach‚ about completing the set‚ Baxter joked: “Do they give sets out like that – for the mantelpiece? The little miniatures?”
He continued: “But definitely [you do think about it]. As a pro‚ you want to win every tournament you enter.
“When I was at AIK Stockholm‚ when we entered the Champions League‚ you’ve got to tell your players that‚ ‘We’re not here to make up the numbers’ – even though you know you are.
“But you know that you’ve got the ambition as a pro to try to win everything you can‚ and to try to go as far as you can.
“Well this is a final‚ so it’s one game away from winning it.
“So‚ yeah‚ it would be very‚ very nice.”
Mosimane became the first coach to win all SA’s trophies when Sundowns won the Telkom final against Kaizer Chiefs in 2015.
Baxter knows not to underestimate City‚ whose surprise placing at the top of the PSL and run to the Telkom final the SuperSport coach said he is actually not so surprised about.
“We need to know that Cape Town City are going to be a very difficult opponent‚ and they’re probably the team in the country at the moment that is surprising everybody‚” said Baxter.
“[But] I’m surprised.
“It’s a team that was fourth in the league that has got a new coach‚ and he’s organised them well.
“And they’re kicking on from where they were last year.”
SuperSport reached the Telkom final by beating Ajax Cape Town 1-0 in the first round‚ Sundowns on penalties in the quarterfinals and Pirates 1-0 in the semifinals.
City beat Bloemfontein Celtic 2-0 in the opening round‚ Baroka FC 4-3 in the quarters and Free State Stars 4-1 in the semis. — TMG Digital not that