Bafana Bafana coach Stuart Baxter will be calling up Manchester United star Quinton Fortune and Danish-based winger Sibusiso Zuma for next month’s vital group two World Cup qualifier against Uganda in Kampala.
Speaking at the Johannesburg International airport on Monday morning after returning from Kinshasa where Bafana were beaten 1-0 by the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in Sunday’s World Cup qualifier, Baxter outlined his plans for the future.
Baxter said he is assured that both Fortune and FC Copenhagen’s Zuma have recovered from injuries that prevented them from playing against the DRC and both players will be in his plans for Kampala on October 9.
He stressed that all is not lost and he believes that Bafana will still qualify for the 2006 World Cup finals in Germany.
”It was a setback losing when the least I expected was to get a point. But we still have three away matches. They hold the key. If we collect six points form them and win our remaining home games we will qualify for Germany,” said Baxter.
He added: ”Our group is tight and will go down to the wire. We play Uganda, Cape Verde and Burkina Faso away and need to pick up the points form those matches.”
Baxter said he is not feeling any pressure: ”It is still early days and there is still a long way to go. I still believe we are improving and on the right track.”
The national coach was furious with the handling of the match by Burundi referee Jean-Marie Hicuburundi. Baxter and millions of South African television viewers watched in disbelief as a confident penalty appeal by Bafana was turned down by the Burundi match official.
The incident happened in the 13th minute when the DRC’s South African based defender Dikulu Bageta fouled Bafana midfielder Benedict Vilakazi inside the DRC penalty area.
”We have watched video footage of that incident over and over. It is outrageous that the ref did not give us a penalty. The DRC player almost broke Vilakazi’s leg,” said Baxter.
But the national coach refused to use the ”penalty incident” as an excuse for losing: ”Not many teams will pick up points in Kinshasa. The DRC are not a great side but with their hostile crowd are very difficult to beat at home.”
Baxter said he was happy with his side’s first-half performance but disappointed at the end result.
”We played superbly under difficult conditions for 60 minutes. But later in the second half we lost our structure and that cost us the goal which came three minutes from the end through a lot of bad mistakes from a number of players who should have done better.”
Baxter also criticised his team’s lack of finishing.
”We [had] enough chances to win, but wasted every one of them.”
Baxter was full of praise for his players, who he said had been badly intimidated before the match.
”The players never buckled. They are a credit to South Africa. They refused to be intimidated by threats and the 100 000 crowd.”
The only goal was scored in the 87th minute by Kaizer Chiefs striker Kabamba Musasa. — Sapa