Baxter uncertainty deters Matsatsantsa

By Herrold Lamola

With the ever dragging announcement of Shakes Mashaba's successor- My pondering question has always been...will these speculations not affect the clubs that the mentioned coaches are currently contracted to?

The race to succeed Shakes Mashaba has been thrown wide open with Stuart Baxter's name now coming to the fore. He is now seems to be the main man to replace Mashaba at Nasrec.

Supersport United mentor- Stuart Baxter- is heavily linked with a possible return to Nasrec and take the Bafana Bafana reins. The Brit will be taking charge of the South African senior national team for the second time should the on going negotiations materialise. Baxter's first spell with the national team was a 18-months stay between 2004 and 2005.

Baxter feels one year and six months in charge of the national team was not enough. "I would have liked more time with the national team, to try and get people to understand what we need to move our game forward." Mr Baxter are you willing to quit your job at Sunninghill office and take charge of a more politicized Bafana Bafana? Don't answer this, it is a rhetoric question.

Supersport officials were within their rights to be angry over the initial approach to their coach without their knowledge. They have argued that- they will only let go of Baxter- If SAFA pays up to R3million in compensation. A fortnight ago Supersport granted SAFA a chance to enter into negotiations with the Englishman and a public statement was made.

Few weeks ago SAFA president Dr Danny Jordaan and communications officer Dominic Chimhavi were confident they have found the new coach with the announcement set to be made in due course but CEO Dennis Mumble had other ideas- contrary to that of Dr Jordaan and Chimhavi- Mumble said there was another coach they were talking to regarding the vacant post.

Is this really has no impact on the concerned clubs? Matsatsantsa a Pitori league title aspirations has suffered a huge dent following their Premier Soccer League (PSL) 5-0 defeat record to cross town rivals Mamelodi Sundowns over a week ago and a narrow 1-0 loss to the same Sundowns team on Wednesday night. Supersport players appeared to have heavy legs and were outclassed by Bafana ba Style on the night. Before the loss against Baroka they were boasting a 19-game unbeaten streak but it was three loses on the bounce since.

In his admission of guilt- Baxter admitted that, the uncertainty about his future is affecting his players. Since Supersport United granted Baxter a permission to engage with SAFA- the Tshwane giants has never tasted a league victory.

Supersport players are more wary of losing their coach than losing out on the league championship. On his arrival at Supersport United- Baxter helped the team out of relegation danger then led them to a Nedbank Cup victory and Telkom Knockout final. The Brit has built a championship winning squad that is currently in the top five of the more contested league honours- though their chances of clinching the title are getting slimmer by game. Baxter has guided the team to a Caf Confederations Cup group stages spot.

There is a valid excuse for Supersport to perform below par. We all know how players perform when they don't want a coach. Remember what happened to Chelsea in post Jose Mourinho- a rejuvenated Blues side. Raneiri also knows the taste of managing a bunch of players who don't need you anymore. I know the two scenarios are incomparable but- Players will always protect and fight for a coach if they want him in charge. I strongly believe that- the Barcelona- Luis Enrigue scenario is the most closest to the one of  Supersport. The team is now in tatters as it splutters towards the end of the season knowing they might lose their coach.
Baxter is the fourth coach to be linked with the Bafana Bafana job. Hugo Broos, Carlos Queiroz and Herve Renard were the frontrunners to replace the axed Bafana Bafana coach, Shakes Mashaba, but none of them has agreed contractual terms with SAFA.

Guvin Hunt has distanced himself from Bafana Bafana job from the word go. He has been dragged to this by his fans and even some in the media but he has shown less interest. Bidvest Wits is still much into the league honours run. There are no distractions at Braamfontein and it is all because of Hunt's roaming mind. Maybe this is what Stuart Baxter should have done.

Baxter is the ideal man to take over the national team reins but is this rumour not affecting Supersport? If SAFA really needs Baxter it must just do the right thing and appoint him.

To tweak an old adage: One man's poison is another man's meat. Supersport's loss is Bafana Bafana's gain. 

@Lamola_eitcHDee