Baxter ‘puts pen to paper’ on Bafana
Krol ‘to take over at SuperSport’
The SA Football Association have completed a deal to have Stuart Baxter as Bafana Bafana coach and an announcement is imminent.
Sowetan has learnt that Safa wanted to announce Baxter as coach yesterday, but he was in KwaZulu-Natal guiding SuperSport United in their 2-0 win over KwaDukuza United in the Nedbank Cup last 16.
“We’ve finalised everything and pen has been put to paper. The announcement could be tomorrow or any time from now. It’s just a matter of calling you guys [the media] to the official announcement,” said Safa communications manager Dominic Chimhavi yesterday.
Initially, SuperSport were only willing to release Baxter at the end of June, but Sowetan has learnt that he may be allowed to leave immediately.
According to our informant, this has prompted SuperSport to move swiftly for former Orlando Pirates coach Ruud Krol.
It is important for Safa to get their man now, because Bafana are playing Nigeria in a 2019 Afcon qualifier in June. “I’m sure you heard about Roger de Sa joining SuperSport, but I can tell you Krol is very much in the picture,” said our source.
SuperSport CEO Stan Matthews couldn’t be reached for comment. Baxter, meanwhile, rejected claims that he was holding Safa to “ransom” by demanding that his son Lee joins as goalkeeper coach.
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