New Bafana Bafana coach Stuart Baxter named a strong 18-man squad of mainly overseas based players to play Cape Verde in next Saturday’s opening World Cup qualifier to be played at Bloemfontein’s Free State stadium.
Baxter was forced to name his squad without injured stars Quinton Fortune (Manchester United), Steven Pienaar (Ajax Amsterdam) and Sibusiso Zuma (FC Copenhagen). He also left out Porto striker Benni McCarthy. McCarthy will be getting married next weekend and Fortune has been ruled out until August.
Baxter said he had spoken to Ajax coach Ronald Koeman, who suggested resting Pienaar because he had suffered a number of injuries this season.
”I agreed with Koeman that it would be fruitless risking further injury to Pienaar. Hopefully he will have recovered in time to play Ghana in our next qualifier in Accra later in June,” said Baxter.
Baxter said he had also spoken to Copenhagen coach Hans Backe who informed him Zuma was not fully fit.
”I agreed with the Copenhagen coach that it was not in anybody’s interest to risk further injury to Zuma. Like Pienaar, I hope he will be fit to play against Ghana,” said Baxter.
Baxter has recalled a number of overseas based stars who were out of favour with his predecessor Shakes Mashaba. Returning to the squad are Dutch based goalkeeper Hans Vonk, the two Charlton Athletic players — defender Mark Fish and Bafana leading goal Shaun Bartlett — as well as German based defender Bradley Carnell and World Cup striker George Koumantarakis.
These players took part in the 1-0 defeat by Australia in a friendly played in London.
Styles Phumo and the remainder of Mashaba’s technical team will remain in their positions.
”I do not want to bring in new people before my first game in charge. The status quo will remain for the first three World Cup qualifiers and if satisfied then the technical staff will remain in place, otherwise I will quietly go about making necessary changes,” said Baxter.
Baxter also announced he would have a new role for captain Mbulelo Mabizela: ”I will be switching Mabizela from a central defensive role to a defensive midfield role where I believe that he will be effective.” – Sapa