Baxter could equal Pitso’s trophy spree

STUART Baxter has thought about the personal achievement of becoming only the second coach in South Africa to win every domestic trophy on offer‚ he said ahead of the Telkom Knockout final.

SuperSport United coach Baxter would join Mamelodi Sundowns coach Pitso Mosimane in the feat should his side beat Cape Town City in Saturday’s Telkom Knockout final at the Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane (kickoff 6pm).

Baxter won the league twice as coach of Kaizer Chiefs between 2012 and last year‚ plus the Nedbank Cup and MTN8.

He added a second Nedbank winner’s medal when SuperSport beat Orlando Pirates in the 2015-16 final in Polokwane in May.

Asked about this final being – personally for the coach – about completing the set‚ Baxter joked: “Do they give sets out like that – for the mantelpiece? The little miniatures?

“But definitely [you do think about it]. As a pro‚ you want to win every tournament you enter.

“When I was at AIK Stockholm‚ when we entered the Champions League‚ you’ve got to tell your players: ‘We’re not here to make up the numbers’ – even though you know you are.

“But you know that you’ve got the ambition as a pro to try to win everything you can‚ and to try to go as far as you can.

“Well this is a final‚ so it’s one game away from winning it. “So‚ yeah‚ it would be very‚ very nice.” Mosimane became the first coach to win all SA’s trophies when Sundowns won the Telkom final against Kaizer Chiefs in December last year.

Baxter knows not to underestimate City‚ and he is not surprised at their unexpected placing at the top of the PSL and run to the Telkom final.

“We need to know that Cape Town City are going to be a very difficult opponent‚ and they’re probably the team in the country at the moment that is surprising everybody‚” he said. “[But] I’m not that surprised. “It’s a team that was fourth in the league that has a new coach‚ and he’s organised them well.

“And they’re kicking on from where they were last year.

“It’s a bit of a logical progression and you shouldn’t think they’re flying temporarily.”

SuperSport reached the Telkom final by beating Ajax Cape Town 1-0 in the first round‚ Sundowns on penalties in the quarterfinals and Pirates 1-0 in the semifinals.

City beat Bloemfontein Celtic 2-0 in the opening round‚ Baroka FC 4-3 in the quarters and Free State Stars 4-1 in the semis.