Juggling act for Baxter

Stuart Baxter is sad to no longer have the option to use what was fast becoming his favourite formation at Kaizer Chiefs.

Morgan Gould, Tefu Mashamaite and Eric Mathoho were part of Baxter's five defenders in the Chiefs line-up.

Gould was this week ruled out for the rest of the season with an injury, Eric Mathoho is in the recovery room and will miss the Nedbank Cup quarterfinal clash against Bloemfontein Celtic on Saturday. This leaves Mashamaite to partner with Lincoln Zvasiya.

Baxter said yesterday that Amakhosi would now be easier to read in their cup game at Free State Stadium as well as their five Absa Premiership matches.

"I am sad because I thought the lads did very well with it and it was looking very interesting," the coach said. "But I now have to come up with a solution. The world isn't perfect."

Baxter also has to do without Reneilwe Letsholonyane on Saturday. The midfielder was sent off in the goalless draw against Golden Arrows last week.

He said it would be tricky to face Celtic for the second time in two weeks away from home. Chiefs beat Celtic 3-0 when they met last month at the same venue.

"We've lost three international players to injuries and suspension and we don't want to get any more than that. If you took out three international players in any team in the world you are looking at a considerable weakening," he said.

Chiefs have often been able to close the gap when key players have been missing this season, but the coach said he was worried the replacements he had in mind lacked match fitness.

"The problem in South Africa is that the reserve league is so poorly organised that you never know when the games are coming," Baxter said. "Therefore the lads that aren't playing in the first team struggle so much to stay match fit.

"They can train and train but that is not much and we have found that, unless we are rotating the players, those that aren't playing regularly do lose that little edge."

Baxter pointed to Siyabonga Nkosi, Lucky Baloyi and Zvasiya as likely replacements for his unavailable trio, but moaned that they would battle to keep up with the pace of the game.

On Letsholonyane's controversial red card, Baxter suggested there should be a structure set up to allow clubs to appeal decisions.

"I think it's fair to have an apparatus where you can appeal certain decisions because I looked at the video and it is at worst a yellow card," the coach explained.