New Bafana Bafana Coach, Baxter, Vows to Punish Eagles
Femi Solaja with agency report
Super Eagles Coach Gernot Rohr’s unbeaten run with the Super Eagles is threatened following the determination of new South African national team coach, Stuart Baxter, to defeat Nigeria in the AFCON 2019 qualifier.
Both Nigeria and South Africa go headlong in the opening group match at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo next month.
The new coach in an interview with the BBC yesterday vowed to give Nigeria “a game” when the two teams clash at the stadium that is now a favourable hunting ground for the Super Eagles.
“I hope we will be very competitive with Nigeria. We will give them a game,” Baxter told a press conference shortly after his unveiling in Johannesburg yesterday.
The Englishman was reappointed earlier this month as a replacement for Ephraim ‘Shakes’ Mashaba who was given the boot in December last year.
He will start his second spell as Bafana Bafana head coach with a 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against the Super Eagles in Uyo on June 10.
Baxter, who signed a five-year contract, said he will name his technical team and squad for the Nigeria game on May 25.
“We need to be competitive and players will do it the South African way; that should reflect the play in the country,” said Baxter, who previously coached the 1996 African champions from May 2004 to November 2005.
The 63-year-old, who will continue to coach Premier Soccer League side SuperSport United until the end of the season, said there was no shortage of talent in South Africa.
“I believe the nation has enough players to succeed and I also believe in my abilities; I’m very optimistic,” said the former Kaizer Chiefs boss.
He added: “I’m really looking forward to this latest challenge. If I wasn’t ready, I would not have accepted the challenge.
“I’m very optimistic if we can pull together, but don’t be too negative because it will affect everyone. I’m asking for buy-in from every South African.
“I will be going abroad to watch players who ply their trade there. I will watch every South African. They will get a fair chance.
“I want Bafana Bafana to unite South Africa in the long term. If we do that we will become a powerhouse of football,” said Baxter.
