Kujane well prepared for Nigeria game

BAFANA Bafana team manager Barney Kujane does not like surprises and is well prepared for whatever happens when the national team faces nemesis Nigeria in an away 2019 African Nations Cup qualifier on June 10.

Kujane travelled to Nigeria to inspect facilities a few days ago and he said yesterday afternoon he had done everything in his power to ensure that preparations for new Bafana coach Stuart Baxter’s first game at the helm would run as smoothly as possible.

Bafana have never beaten Nigeria in an official match and cannot afford to be distracted by any off-the-field diversions ahead of such a crucial encounter.

‘‘If you leave South Africa and you have not done your homework‚ a surprise in Nigeria can cause complete disarray to the coach’s plans and to the players‚” Kujane said.

‘‘When you are the team manager‚ you have to make sure there are no surprises.

‘‘I do not like surprises,” he said. “It is the first game for the coach and our first game in the 2019 Afcon qualifiers.”

Kujane visited the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo State‚ the venue‚ and told Baxter the team would play on a normal grass pitch.

He also took photographs and the Bafana coach now has a good idea of the surface.

Kujane said the pitch was similar to the one at the FNB Stadium – and that Bafana would use the 2010 World Cup venue as their training venue from Sunday until departure to Nigeria next Wednesday.

This planning is a departure from the chaos of Bafana’s preparations for their African Nations Cup qualifier against Mauritania in September 2017, when then coach Ephraim ‘‘Shakes” Mashaba did not know it would be played on an artificial pitch.

‘‘I do not foresee problems in Nigeria‚” Kujane said. ‘‘The only concern is the distance from our hotel to the match venue – about 45 minutes.”