Baxter called Wits coach Hunt for 'an hour' about Bafana Bafana squad for Nigeria

Bafana Bafana coach Stuart Baxter called Bidvest Wits coach Gavin Hunt for “about an hour”‚ asking for advice on his first squad selection for an imposing assignment in the away 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Nigeria.

Comparisons between Baxter and the predecessor he has replaced in the Bafana hot seat‚ Ephraim “Shakes” Mashaba‚ are inevitable.

While Mashaba was capable of getting results – displayed when Bafana qualified for the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations‚ at defending champions Nigeria’s expense – he displayed some glaring deficiencies.

One was communication – the coach‚ sacked in December for an outburst at his Safa bosses‚ barely ever called PSL coaches for advice.

• Bafana Bafana drop one place in the latest FIFA rankingsSouth Africa have slipped one place to number 65 in the latest FIFA World Rankings released on Thursday. 

Baxter has already shown communication is not likely to be his weak point‚ and nor will Mashaba’s other glaring shortcoming – research of the opposition.

Baxter personally called Thulani Serero – nearing the end of his contract at Ajax Amsterdam – to explain why the forward was not selected for the qualifier in Uyo on June 10.

He roped in a Manchester United scout to report back on Nigeria’s training camp in France‚ and warm-up matches against a Corsican XI and Togo.

• Ambitious Cape Town City sign Bafana Bafana midfielder Ayanda PatosiCape Town City have made the first major signing ahead of the 2017/18 Premier Soccer League season with the acquisition of Bafana Bafana attacking midfielder Ayanda Patosi. 

Hunt‚ who won his fourth league title‚ and first in Wits’ 95-year history last week‚ revealed Baxter spent an hour on the phone picking the Clever Boys coach’s brain on the Bafana squad selection.

Only three of Wits’ title winners – goalkeeper Darren Keet and defenders Thulani Hlatshwayo and Sifiso Hlanti – were selected but Hunt indicated he could understand why.

“There are always going to be debates about those types of things‚ aren’t there. Everybody’s got there own players‚” the Wits coach said.

“Stuart and I‚ we spoke for about an hour – about the team‚ about what I think. I told him who I thought he should pick – not from Wits‚ from the league.

• Battered Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger searches for redemptionWith his future finally resolved, Arsene Wenger has one last chance to restore his battered reputation and end the civil war that threatened to tear Arsenal apart. 

“Our strong part of our team (Wits) is our defence and midfield. So you take the midfield – there are a lot of strong players in Bafana in that area.

“I mean Stuart’s got a difficult choice to pick players there – he might have to play five in midfield just to give everybody a run there.

“So for me he’s got a difficult choice. No-one’s ever going to be happy with the selection.

“And I’m not saying I’m happy or unhappy. But I’m saying‚ with the public‚ generally‚ there’s always going to be a problem.

• Fiery Josephs fires scathing salvo at Pirates players and labels them 'Instagram stars'Orlando Pirates chairman Irvin Khoza should go and chase the signature of Steve Pienaar this off-season to bring someone to the club who can show the current “Instagram players what a real star is”‚ says ex-Bucs goalkeeper Moeneeb Josephs. 

“But at the end of the day‚ what’s the most important thing? The result.

“Get that and everything will be forgotten. So I wish them well and I’m sure he’ll call me again.”

Hunt sucked air asked if he thought Baxter had selected a squad that could get a result in Nigeria.

“Ja‚ you’ve got to go horses for courses there a little bit‚ haven’t you? It’s where you’re going‚ who you’re playing‚ what surface‚ how‚ what‚” he said.

• 'I’m even embarrassed to say that I did well,' says Kaizer Chiefs' Siphiwe TshabalalaSiphiwe Tshabalala is embarrassed when people talk about his good season‚ his overriding sentiment for 2016-17 being disappointment at Kaizer Chiefs ending without a trophy again. 

“He explained to me his thinking and I said‚ ‘OK‚ X‚ Y‚ Z’. Ja‚ we spoke at length‚ which is good.”

Hunt was overlooked for the Bafana job yet again as Safa opted for SuperSport United and ex-Kaizer Chiefs double winner of 2012-13 and 2014-15 Baxter to return for as second stint with the national team.

- TMG Digital/TMG Sport