Baxter not stressing over injured Khune

But coach frets about delay of overseas players

Bafana Bafana coach Stuart Baxter says he is not losing sleep over the possibility that goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune may miss the clash against Senegal at Peter Mokaba Stadium on Friday (7pm).

Khune is set to miss the match because he has a bone fracture in his face after colliding with Chippa United’s Kurt Lentjies in Sunday’s Telkom Knockout quarterfinal clash won 1-0 by Chiefs.

Khune will see a specialist this morning to determine the extent of the injury.

Baxter insisted during his media briefing yesterday here in Limpopo that he can work around Khune’s absence, even though the last time the latter missed the two games against Cape Verde due to injury, Bafana lost both encounters 2-1 home and away, which has put them on the back foot as the bottom side in Group D.

“I will be honest, I don’t think in terms of that. You got to believe in your players,” said Baxter, who currently has two keepers Wayne Sandilands and Ronwen Williams in camp.

The two played one game each against Cape Verde, before Khune returned in the 3-1 win over Burkina Faso.

Baxter continued: “The players also got to believe in themselves. If we keep worrying about what’s happened in the past, I mean a lot of things happened in the past in this country and if we constantly dragged it to our necks, we will struggle and that’s the same on the football field... whoever plays is picked because he can do the job.”

Meanwhile, Baxter couldn’t hide his frustration at the fact that five overseas-based players are yet to report for camp.

Thulani Serero, Andile Jali, Lebogang Manyama, Keagan Dolly and Dino Ndlovu have either had their flights delayed or cancelled.

Bongani Zungu is in camp even though he will miss Friday’s encounter because of a one-match suspension.

“I think this is probably normal and you get used to it, but for me I always like things to be smoother than this.

“We have to get players in from Europe as quickly as possible and until I get everyone in camp, it’s difficult to be comfortable,” he admitted.

Kaizer Chiefs duo Siphiwe Tshabalala and Mulomowandau Mathoho are expected to arrive today after playing in the Telkom Cup on Sunday in Port Elizabeth.

‘‘ Whoever plays is picked because he can do the job