Coach has central midfield headache
BAXTER: KEKANA, MABUNDA OR MOKOENA, MABOE?
In terms of Stuart Baxter’s Bafana Bafana selection posers for tomorrow’s 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Nigeria, who he plays in central midfield is almost certainly the main area of concern.
Injury has ravaged that part of the pitch, with Bongani Zungu, Dean Furman and Kamohelo Mokotjo, the regulars thus far in qualifying, all out injured. Luckily Baxter has plenty of experience and talent in that area, and seems to have five players to whittle down to two tomorrow. Will he pick the Sundowns pairing of Hlompho Kekana and Tiyani Mabunda, or go for the young guns in Teboho Mokoena and Lebo Maboe? Alternatively, Baxter could use Thulani Serero in a defensive midfield role he has been used to playing in the Netherlands.
“Our midfield was Zungu and Furman, and then Furman and Mokotjo, so it is a new pairing,” admitted Baxter.
“I have the choice of Hlompho and “Sugar” (Mabunda) because they play together at club level, or one of the other two who probably really are the future (Mokoena and Maboe). I have to make a decision based on how we play and how we want to get at them. I am confident that whoever we pick will do a job, it is a big ask to go up against the likes of Alex Iwobi and people like that, but I think they can do a job.”
Kekana is certainly unconcerned, whoever Baxter picks tomorrow.
“It is not about us, it is about doing well for your country,” said the Sundowns man.
“It is about the three points, the personnel doesn’t matter, the whole goal is to get the three points on Saturday.”
Kekana says Bafana have been studying Nigeria ahead of the game.
“We have been watching their videos and I know some of their players are in the English Premier League ... we must make sure they don’t come in our half too often, it is up us to minimise their movements and to try to play our football,” he said.