When the heat is on, it is not in Stuart Baxter’s nature to get out of the kitchen.
The Bafana Bafana coach made this clear on Friday when the local complement of the South African squad returned from their ill-fated trip to Burkina Faso and Germany that torpedoed hopes of qualifying for next year’s World Cup finals.
South Africa are also not assured of qualifying for the African Nations Cup tournament in Egypt, which begins in January — and Baxter said his immediate aim is to achieve this objective when Bafana play the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) next month.
”I regard this as a duty in keeping with my contract,” said the Bafana coach, who dismissed any suggestion that he might resign before the game against the DRC.
Bafana need only draw the match to make sure South Africa are one of the three nations from the group B qualifiers who will be going to Egypt for the Nations Cup.
A defeat, however, and a victory for Burkina Faso against Uganda, will leave South African soccer in the ignominious situation of failing to qualify for both the World Cup and the African Cup of Nations.
”This is something I believe we must work towards avoiding at all costs,” said Baxter, ”and I would expect a united effort from the players, coaching staff, Safa [the South African Football Association] — and all South Africans, for that matter.”
However, while Baxter confirmed his contract is due to run until July next year, it is likely he will sit down with Safa officials after the DRC game for ”heart-to-heart” discussions on what the best direction is for Bafana before the hosting of the 2010 World Cup.
”And let’s face it,” said the Bafana coach, ”some urgent soul-searching is required.”
Baxter said of the many recommendations he has made during his 18-month tenure as Bafana coach, ”about 1% has been implemented by Safa”.
And, as a point in question, it was surprising that none of the top Safa officials were on hand at Johannesburg International airport to greet the Bafana contingent on their return home. — Sapa