Bafana Bafana coach Stuart Baxter says he’s delighted that for the first time, he has a week to work with players before a match. Bafana Bafana arrived in Polokwane on Saturday ahead of their first match in the 2018 Cosafa Cup on Sunday.
Luther Singh and Gift Links are the only overseas-based players included in the Bafana Bafana team to play at the Peter Mokaba stadium in Polokwane on Sunday.
They will play against a team that will win first position in Group A. The group consists of Mozambique, Magascar, Comoros and Seychelles.
Bafana coach Stuart Baxter says there is always pressure to win.
‘It’s a really promising group. The pressure to get results is the same. The week together gives us a lot of time. I don’t think about one week with a national team anyway in the world this week is good to get this squad together in those seven days is a victory already I think it could a good Cosafa free challenge.”
Baxter says Premier Soccer League (PSL) teams have provided the squad with good players.
“The PSL is more competitive, it gives us better players from the home market and I am satisfied with our strikers. We are still going too quick we don’t slow down. We have got to teach the players how to manage speed.”
Meanwhile, Maritzburg United FC defender Siyanda Xulu has been named captain of the Bafana Bafana team.
He says they have a great team for the tournament.
“We have got home ground advantage and we have great players. It shows that we can compete at any given time.”
The 18th edition of the Cosafa soccer tournament started on Sunday and it will end on June 9. Entrance to the matches is free.
Cosafa secretary general, Sue Destombes earlier urged soccer fans to collect free entrance tickets at the old Peter Mokaba stadium.
