Baxter ignores critics to focus on success
Jordaan stands fast in refusal to give figures
STUART Baxter spoke like a mix between a pastor and a salesman in his first official address as Bafana Bafana coach‚ preaching unity and selling the legacy he wants to leave behind.
But it will take more than words for Baxter to win over everyone, as the decision by the South African Football Association (Safa) to appoint the Brit has divided opinions.
The association “settled” for Baxter after money became an issue in the protracted search in which Safa could not tie down the front-runners Carlos Queiroz‚ two-times Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) winner Herve Renard, and Belgian Hugo Broos, who helped Cameroon become African kings after 13 barren years.
Baxter does not have an international football CV as impressive as theirs.
What he has over them‚ though‚ is a good understanding of South African football.
That understanding has prepared him to deal with the doubts and criticism that surrounded his appointment, just as was the case in his first stint as Bafana coach and also when he returned to manage Kaizer Chiefs.
“If I worry about all the negativity that people could throw up – what if this‚ what if that – then that diminishes my ability to do the job properly‚” Baxter said.
“I have to believe in the team. I’ve got to believe in the process and I’ve got to believe that we will be successful.
“There are a million reasons why people will suggest that we won’t be successful.
“If I listen to that‚ then we won’t be successful.”
Bafana’s trip to Uyo to take on Nigeria on June 10 in the 2019 Afcon qualifiers will be a perfect opportunity for Baxter to silence his detractors and set a good foundation against the old enemy.
He will announce the squad for that match today.
“Winning everyone over can’t be done in five minutes‚” Baxter said.
“I can’t do that‚ let’s say‚ before the Nigeria game. I’ll do that when I am in the seat and have a little bit of time there.
“It will take me going around visiting the clubs‚ finding out what they need from their association and outlining what we want from them.
“It’s those things I will need to do.”
SOUTH African Football Association president Danny Jordaan has disputed reports that the new Bafana Bafana coach‚ Stuart Baxter‚ will be earning R1-million a month.
Briefing parliament’s sports and recreation portfolio committee yesterday, Jordaan also disputed allegations that Baxter demanded that his son‚ Lee‚ be appointed as the national team’s goalkeeper coach.
“Did Baxter make a demand that [his son must be a goalkeeper coach]? No. Is Baxter getting R1-million a month? No. Is Baxter getting more than Shakes Mashaba? No‚” he said.
Baxter was announced as the new Bafana Bafana coach earlier this month.
He is taking over from Shakes Mashaba, who was fired in December after he fell out of favour with Safa top brass.
Mashaba has taken the matter of his dismissal to court, where his case has not yet been finalised.
In the briefing, both Jordaan and Safa chief executive Dennis Mumble flatly refused to give the exact amount paid to Baxter, despite numerous pleas from DA MP Tsepo Mhlongo.
“We have not published any salaries of any of our staff‚ including the former coach,” Mumble said.
“What you read in the papers, they are throwing around figures that have no basis in reality.”
He said Baxter’s salary was a contractual matter and that the two parties had signed a confidentiality clause.
Jordaan said MPs who wanted to view Baxter’s salary could visit Safa House and sign a non-disclosure agreement before seeing the new coach’s package. The two were responding to Mhlongo, who said Mashaba’s salary was known to the public.
“[In their presentation Safa is] talking about transparency and accountability,” Mhlongo said. “I fail to understand when we ask about the present coach‚ that you don’t get actual figures.”
He said he understood the clause, but they still needed to know the actual salary of the new coach.
Jordaan also flatly declined to answer questions around Mashaba’s departure‚ saying he could only brief either the chair or the committee during a closed meeting.
“You always have to look at your players, the best interest of your players and what issues they have‚” he said.