Bafana have learnt from past
COACH BAXTER: WE WILL NOT UNDERSTIMATE ANYONE
Lorch, Mkhize to replace injury-hit Pule, Morena.
Sibongiseni Gumbi
Bafana Bafana have learnt from their mistakes and they will not underestimate Seychelles when they host them at the FNB Stadium on Saturday and in a return match away next Tuesday in the Caf Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.
Having shot themselves in the foot when they mistook Cape Verde for a small team in the Fifa World Cup qualifiers and living to regret the consequences, Bafana coach Stuart Baxter said he doesn’t want complacency this time around as they gun for the six points.
“We were all off the mark on Cape Verde because we thought they were a small team but it was only in stature that they are small but they have quality players. I think in this game we should not have any other thoughts in our minds. We want the six points and we will not underestimate anyone. We will play as well as we can,” said the 65-year-old.
Bafana have had a good campaign in the Afcon qualifiers as they opened with an unexpected 2-0 win over Nigeria away. But they almost dropped the ball again as they were held to a goalless draw by Libya at home last month.
After two matches Bafana are tied on four points with Libya and if they get the six points off Seychelles they will end up in a good position to qualify for next year’s tournament to be held in Cameroon.
Baxter said his team will play with intensity and he wants them to be mobile in their approach. “Nerves, anxiety and complacency are things that affect intensity. If we play with the intensity we are showing right now and the quality of the structure, then we can pick our way through.
“We have to have discipline… Our target is to reproduce the football we are playing now. And that has been the challenge for South African teams for a while now, they know they can do it but it has not happened,” he said.
Baxter was forced to make two changes yesterday with Orlando Pirates’ Vincent Pule and Mamelodi Sundowns’ Thapelo Morena forced out by injuries. Pirates’ Thembinkosi Lorch and Cape Town City’s Thamsanqa Mkhize have been called up as replacements.
Striker Dino Ndlovu’s arrival has been delayed as his flight from China was cancelled.
Bafana will this morning play a friendly against SuperSport United as Baxter looks to test the tactical approach. “I want us to play a very mobile game … I want to see tactical things with that game.”