'So is it a disaster if we lose (to Nigeria)? No. But we want to win,' says Baxter

25 May 2017 - 16:31 By Marc Strydom
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Stuart Baxter during the South African men's senior national squad announcement at SAFA House on May 25, 2017 in Johannesburg, South Africa.
Stuart Baxter during the South African men's senior national squad announcement at SAFA House on May 25, 2017 in Johannesburg, South Africa.
Image: Lefty Shivambu/Gallo Images

Bafana Bafana will go to Nigeria with a positive mindset and trying to get a result‚ Stuart Baxter said of his imposing first assignment against South Africa's nemesis team the Super Eagles.

Baxter was realistic‚ and said he would accept a draw as a positive result in Bafana's opening 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier in Uyo on June 10 against a team South Africa have never beaten in a competitive match.

Baxter‚ though‚ said Bafana will not fall into the trap of a negative mindset of trying to play for a draw.

"Everybody wants to get off on the right foot‚" Baxter said of his first assignment‚ having replaced Ephraim "Shakes" Mashaba as Bafana coach.

  • Baxter reveals he called Serero to explain reasons behind his omission from Bafana squadStuart Baxter contacted Thulani Serero to inform the Ajax Amsterdam player that his lack of game time‚ and uncertainty over his next club destination‚ was the reason the midfield star was left out of the coach's first Bafana Bafana squad. 

"So it will be important in many ways.

"I heard someone talking about our Under-20 team and saying that‚ 'Well‚ these are going to be future Bafana players and you must be disappointed about their dismal showing (at the current Fifa U-20 World Cup)'.

"I think it's a little bit like that.

"You know‚ we are going to Nigeria.

  • Stuart Baxter announces Bafana squad to face Nigeria in 2019 Afcon qualifierNew Bafana Bafana coach Stuart Baxter finally showed his hand when he announced his first squad as national team boss. 

"Nigeria are probably the strongest opposition who we could get at this point in time on their own patch.

"So is it a disaster if we lose? No. But we want to win.

"I don't think it's been dismal of the U-20 boys.

"I think they've done great to get to the U-20 World Cup.

  • Baxter's salary is 'no one's business'New Bafana Bafana coach Stuart Baxter is either earning the same or less than his predecessor, Shakes Mashaba, SA Football Association (Safa) president Danny Jordaan has intimated. 

"And I think we should call it what it is - we've done really well.

"Shoots are starting to show from the development programme.

"They've done great to get there‚ gain that experience and take it home.

"They didn't beat Japan - I'll tell you what‚ Japan are a very good team.

"And they didn't beat Italy.

  • Five players who can commit a smash-and-grab burglary for Baxter in NigeriaBafana Bafana do not need to go to Nigeria trying to play for a win. 

"Well guys‚ if I get you to Russia (2018) and we lose 1-0 to Brazil in the first game‚ and you (the media) say‚ 'We're a disgrace'‚ that's just something I talk about when we say negativity.

"We've got to really look at the positives.

"So for me‚ we're going to go to Nigeria‚ we're going to do our best to win the game.

"Don't anybody be under any illusion that we're not going to go there and sell ourselves very dearly.

"I want to get off to a good start.

  • Jordaan claims Baxter is either earning same or less than Mashaba's R583,333 monthly salary 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. 

"But for the qualification‚ Nigeria is away.

"If we win‚ fantastic; if we draw‚ not bad.

"And we do want at least a point from the game - we're not going to try and shut up shop.

"We are going to try and get a good result.

"And we're going to go there in a positive way.

  • 'There are million reasons why people will suggest we won’t be successful,' says new Bafana coach BaxterStuart Baxter spoke like a mix between a pastor and a salesperson in his first official address as a Bafana Bafana coach‚ preaching unity and selling the legacy he wants to leave behind. 

"I don't think we should go there in a negative way and scared to lose."

Bafana have traditionally wilted in the face of the Nigerians in competitive matches‚ though will be encouraged by the qualifiers for the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations‚ where under Mashaba South Africa reached the finals at the defending champions' expense.

South Africa drew 0-0 with Nigeria at home‚ then spurned a 2-0 lead in Uyo‚ conceding two late goals for a 2-2 draw.

- TMG Digital/TMG Sport

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