Injuries to a number of Bafana Bafana players for their 2006 World Cup and African Nations Cup qualifier against the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has almost turned head coach Stuart Baxter into an ambulance man.
”I was running around nursing injuries,” said Baxter on Thursday before announcing his 17-member squad, who are scheduled to leave for Kinshasa on September 4.
Their crucial game in Kinshasa will be played on September 5.
The relatively relaxed Baxter, who guided Bafana Bafana to a resounding 2-0 victory over Tunisia in an international friendly in Tunis last week, retained most of the squad that stunned the African Nations Cup champions in their backyard.
Benson Mhlongo and Shaun Bartlett have been left out due to injuries. Quinton Fortune, who pulled out from that squad due to an injury, has not yet recovered.
”Those are my only worries so far but maybe we will have to take an extra player and probably change his position to that of a midfielder,” said Baxter of what he termed a ”relatively” weak midfield.
In qualifying so far, Bafana Bafana have recorded a 2-1 win against Cape Verde, a 3-0 defeat to Ghana and a 2-0 victory against Burkina Faso. The South Africans top the log in Group 2 with six points, with Ghana second on four and the DRC third.
Baxter made it clear that with the same commitment shown against Tunisia, there is no reason why his charges cannot bag three points against the DRC. Moreover, continuity is what Baxter wants from his team.
”We will have to build from our win against Tunisia. We played well in that game. We created several chances but used two and I am not too unhappy about that. I am satisfied that we are now able to create chances, but we need to match that with quality finishing,” he said.
Bartlett missed a handful of chances in that game, but now that Siyabonga Nomvete is available, Baxter’s problems in the front could be a thing of the past.
Meanwhile, the chief of operations at the South African Football Association, Albert Mokoena, said the association is in constant communication with the local government regarding support and safety measures in the troubled DRC.
”We will send an advanced delegation to ensure that all the necessary logistical challenges are avoided,” said Mokoena. ”We are therefore confident that our boys will be looked after.”
Bafana Bafana will be in camp from next Monday. Former Bafana Bafana captain Steve Komphela has been roped in as the assistant coach, but he will only start working with Baxter from September 1. — Sapa