If Bafana Bafana’s new head coach, Stuart Baxter, is to realise his vision, he will need the complete backing of the national soccer governing body — something his predecessors did not enjoy.
The eloquent Englishman, who was officially introduced to local media at the South African Football Association (Safa) offices in Nasrec on Wednesday, was appointed last week.
The 51-year-old Baxter, a former coach of the England national under-19 team, takes the reins from caretaker coach Styles Phumo who led Bafana’s disastrous campaign at the African Cup of Nations in Tunisia earlier this year.
The going has been tough in the coaching career for Bafana mentors ever since Clive Barker was fired by Safa some years back.
Barker guided Bafana to victory in the African Cup of Nations in South Africa in 1996 after which his charges also qualified for the World Cup finals in France.
But he was fired before soccer’s greatest showpiece and was replaced by Frenchman Phillipe Troussier. The latter was also fired after Bafana’s poor showing in France in 1998.
Club owner and former professional player Jomo Sono then took over, but only on a short-term contract. Safa then appointed Mozambican Carlos Quieroz.
He guided Bafana up until the quarterfinal of the African Cup of Nations in Mali in 2000.
He was fired on his return. It was then the turn of Ephraim Mashaba. He did well under the circumstances but his outspokenness cost him his job and he was sacked before the African Cup of Nations in Tunisia recently.
And now it is the turn of Baxter, who is one of 18 coaches in Sweden and United Kingdom to hold the Uefa professional coaching license.
”I have immediate challenges and I do not have time to waste,” said Baxter, who is married with three children. ”I would also like to be as accessible and open to the local media as much as I possibly can, although I know it is not going to be smooth sailing.
”I have met coaches and club chairmen since my arrival and want to start building bridges. I have made it crystal clear to them that I want the best for South Africa.
”We need to have a wide and deep pool for selection. Some have been critical while others have been complimentary.
”We are all selfish. They want the best for their clubs and I also want the best for the national team but I cannot force people,” he said.
Baxter’s contract with Bafana ends just after the 2006 World Cup in Germany. But that could change, he said, if he produced the goods.
”I had many offers from clubs but I turned them down because I saw this job as a challenge. I want to be brutally honest and say that winning matches is my priority.
”If I lose matches, obviously your patience will wear thin.”
Baxter reiterated his call for ”world-class preparations” if he was to deliver the desired results.
”World-class physical and mental preparations lead to good performances and produces better results,” said Baxter, whose English under-19 team beat previous World Champions France 2-0 last year.
He wants a number of friendly matches soon before embarking on the serious mission of World Cup qualifiers.
”I will need to have two camps, one here and the other in Europe. I will not take players from South Africa to Europe and vice versa. The most important thing that I need to try and do is make players conscious of their mistakes.
”We also need to bring back pride in the badge on the Bafana jersey. That will make players want to fight for their country,” he said.
Baxter is also quite aware that the image of South African soccer, a passionate sport, was at stake.
His view after the handful of local matches he has seen since his arrival last week was that the country has the resources to do far better.
”What I have seen so far is impressive but not enough. We need to harness it.
”I have seen plenty of South African football. I probably know more about local football than what people think. But all I need really is the involvement of all South Africans in order for the change to come.”
The technical staff will be announced after Baxter has held discussions with Safa. — Sapa