Baxter expects another bruiser from Zebras

STUART Baxter expects a similar kicking treatment from Botswana’s Zebras in tomorrow’s African Nations Championship (Chan) away qualifier as what Bafana Bafana had experienced in the Cosafa Cup against them.

Botswana have appointed a new coach since they were beaten 2-0 in a Cosafa plate semifinal in Moruleng, on June 4, by South Africa, in a game marked by physical horseplay from the Zebras‚ with Baxter red-carded for swearing at the fourth official.

Oris Radipotsane took charge of that game as caretaker, after the departure of Englishman Peter Butler to join PSL club Platinum Stars.

Botswana have since appointed former Santos‚ Bay United and Thanda Royal Zulu coach David Bright as head coach.

Baxter‚ though‚ expects Botswana to be physical again in the first leg of his developmental Bafana’s Chan qualifier in Francistown‚ 400km north of Gaborone.

“It was a very physical game. I think they got a lot of stick [at home] not because they lost to us‚ but because of the way they played,” Baxter said yesterday, recalling the Cosafa meeting with Botswana.

“People in Botswana do not want them to play that way,” he said.

“Now‚ from all reports, the coach who’s taken over is not different in his approach. So I’m expecting a bit of a bruising game.

“I am expecting that we are going to have to protect the ball with our physicality. And we’re going to have to shift it quickly‚ otherwise we’re going to get turned over. So I think it will be a tough game. But we have an experience of them‚ and know that if we play well‚ we can get a result to bring back.

“And it’s two legs. So we know that if we win 1-0, it’s not over‚ and if we lose 1-0, it’s not over,” Baxter said.

“It’s a bit like the Champions League. You have to bring them back here with a result you can play on.”

Lehlogonolo Masalesa has been withdrawn from Baxter’s squad as the Confederation of African Football (Caf) had ruled the former Orlando Pirates midfielder ineligible for the Chan – a tournament ruled to be only for local club-based players.

Masalesa had first been included‚ as he had gone out of contract at his previous club, Larissa in Greece.

However‚ the confirmation that Baxter received yesterday morning was that Masalesa was not eligible, because players must be registered with a squad of a club in his country.

“Now if we had known that earlier‚ we could probably have made some plan to get some sort of temporary loan to a little club somewhere.

“But now we have no time to do that,” the coach said.

“It is a big blow‚ and we will now have to change the shape of the way we wanted to play.”

Mamelodi Sundowns’ fringe midfielder Sibusiso Khumalo has been called up as Masalesa’s replacement.

Fondly called “Vieira”‚ Masalesa would have been captain against Botswana‚ as he had been for a similarly developmental squad that finished fifth at the Cosafa Cup this month.

Star SuperSport United centreback Mario Booysen has been named as the replacement captain. – TimesLIVE