Baxter to stick with same steps for Chan as he used in the Cosafa Cup

09 July 2017 - 00:03 By NJABULO NGIDI

Bafana Bafana coach Stuart Baxter is confident that the information he picked up during the Cosafa Cup on the somewhat development team he assembled was useful.
Baxter's team won the plate final 1-0 on Friday against Namibia at Moruleng Stadium near Rustenburg.
The side booked their place in the plate final by beating Botswana 2-0 in a bruising encounter. They were in the plate after losing to Tanzania in the quarterfinals. Baxter gave a number of debutants a run in a mix of youth and fringe players.
Against Tanzania, a handful of players caught the attention of the coach in a sheepish performance. They rolled up their sleeves after that disappointment and fought to win the plate. Nduduzo Sibiya, Judas Moseamedi, Mohau Mokate, Jamie Webber and Lebohang Maboe showed what they could offer.
"All information is useful," Baxter said. "You never lose. You either win, or you learn. That's what happened in the first game (that we lost, we learned). The other two (that we won), asked us different questions. Against Botswana it was a very physical game that we had to endure. Against Namibia, it wasn't that physical, but it was still a hard game. I wanted the lads to have the pressure.
"Collectively, there are some things that we learned. The one positive from the plate final was young Sandile (Mthethwa) because he came in and did well in a back four where we were under pressure. There is some useful information, but not the one where you say that this one is going to be a future star. They still have a lot of work to do."
Next up for Baxter are the qualifiers of the African Nations Championship (Chan) - the Africa Cup of Nations for local-based players.
Bafana visit Botswana on Friday and host them a week later. Victory will see them face either Swaziland or Zambia in the last stage in August. Baxter will keep a few players who were involved in this camp and make a few additions that could include Siphelele Ntshangase.
He will also use Chan to develop the young players and see how those who are on the brink of making it to the real Bafana face up to the demands of international football.
Ngidi is in Rustenburg courtesy of Castle..

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