Irate Baxter cracks the whip
Coach vows to act on camp gig
Bafana Bafana coach Stuart Baxter has promised to crack the whip on players who misbehave while in camp.
It has been alleged that Bongani Zungu and Kamohelo Mokotjo had a party at the team’s hotel in Durban after the 2-1 loss to Cape Verde, but both players are in the squad to play Burkina Faso in a World Cup qualifier on October 7.
Baxter has admitted that something of that nature did indeed take place, but claimed that it wasn’t as bad as reported, and that probably explains why the duo made the squad again. “I’ve had 10 sessions with this group, so allow me more time with them and I will make sure that the players that represent the country don’t think it’s acceptable to overstep the mark,” Baxter said yesterday.
Even though he didn’t confirm the names of the culprits, Baxter felt compelled to protect Zungu.
“It was totally inaccurate to name Bongani Zungu as the ringleader in anything that happened. On a scale of 0 to 10, Bongani was involved in a two or three and there were others that were pretty much more [involved],” he said. “You have to understand his club [Amiens SC] are contemplating massive fines,” he said
Bafana Bafana coach Stuart Baxter has had a change of heart and suddenly believes the national team can still qualify for the 2018 World Cup.
Barely three weeks ago, Baxter had appeared like a man who was ready to throw in the towel after Bafana lost back-toback qualifiers against Cape Verde, especially the second one in Durban.
The 64-year-old has had some time to reflect and when he met the media again yesterday – to announce the squad to play Burkina Faso at FNB Stadium on October 7 – he was sounding more confident.
“If you ask me how it felt five minutes after my father died and I would tell you it’s difficult to go on.
“Ask me a month later, I would tell you life goes on and you see things differently,” Baxter reasoned.
“Immediately after the game, I was so devastated that I couldn’t see the sun coming up the following day.
“So you ask me any question [straight after the match], you are going to get a slightly negative, downtrodden response. Could I be confident at that time? Probably not.
“Looking at the games again, looking at how we can move forward, looking at the squad I’ve selected, thinking about our opponents and knowing we are playing here, we will have a go at them,” he said.
Bafana must win their remaining three matches to stand any chance of qualifying for the tournament.
After playing Burkina Faso, they will face Senegal in November after Fifa ordered a replay of SA’s 2-1 win in Polokwane last year.
Ghanaian referee Joseph Lamptey has been banned for life after “manipulating” the match.
Bafana will end their campaign with another match against Senegal in Dakar the same month.