Stuart Baxter’s return to the Premier Soccer League (PSL) could be crowned with some glory. But there's a massive obstacle for the Scotsman to overcome first.
Months after he left Kaizer Chiefs, the man who led Amakhosi to four trophies during his tenure returned to the local league to aid SuperSport United. Matsatsantsa a Pitori were on a downward spiral but Baxter seems to have stabilized things. Not only that, but the former Bafana Bafana coach is also en-route to taking the three-time Absa Premiership champions to Nedbank Cup glory.
To achieve that though, he has to get rid of the stumbling block that is giant killers Baroka FC. The National First Division (NFD) leaders who are on the verge of gaining promotion to the Premiership, have once again shone in the Nedbank. Following on their giant slaying acts of 2012 where they knocked both Chiefs and Moroka Swallows out, the Limpopo outfit have beaten elite league outfits again this year. Having already eliminated PSL sides - Golden Arrows, Chippa United and Polokwane City, Baroka will now have their sights on Baxter’s side. The two teams clash in the semi-finals at Lucas Moripe Stadium in Atteridgeville tomorrow night. Baxter is aware that marauding Baroka will be all over Matsatsantsa in a quest for another big scalp.
“These things happen in football,” Baxter said of major upsets in cup competitions like the Nedbank Cup that pits lower division sides against elite league teams. “What you have to say is 'we want to try and make sure it doesn’t happen to us'. We have to overcome that feeling that we are being chased. We have been chased and hunted, that's life. But we have to make life difficult for them.”
Baroka missed an opportunity to seal their promotion when they went down 1-0 to bottom side African Warriors on Wednesday and Baxter has an idea what’s going on at the Limpopo club. He thinks Kgokolo Thobejane’s men are taking a strain.
“What I have seen before and from my experiences is that this is a difficult period for them. They want to go far in the cup. Portsmouth did, Wigan did and got relegated at the same time. Is it difficult to keep your focus? Of course it is. We are the same. We want to go top eight but I don’t know how much of the semi-final moves your focus a little bit. They have shown they are feeling a strain a little bit. It’s difficult for everybody. We have got our challenges and they have got theirs,” Baxter explained.
He has done his homework though and has two reports from the club’s scout Paul Matthews about Baroka. Chances are Baxter will have a plan to close down the likes of Thabiso Kutumela, Ayanda Jwara, Dumisani Ngwenya and Kenoshi Motshegwa.
“I have seen them a couple of times and Paul has watched them and has given two reports on them. I have seen them twice.
“What I know is that they are confident because they are used to winning. They have got some good players. I don’t think it is the same as playing a PSL team with all due respect. There are different challenges out there. When you play Mamelodi Sundowns, you know what you get. You have a game plan and you know their qualities. It’s different but does it mean it will get easier? Probably not. You have other things you have to overcome, like unpredictability of the whole game and make sure your players are controlling their nerves and temperament. It’s different issues but it’s not going to be an easy game,” said Baxter.
He believes the Nedbank Cup would do him and his team's confidence a world of good ahead of next season when they are expected to contend for the championship.”It’s important for our players because this is the only tangible success they can have. If we get to top eight you don’t get trophy for that. It’s something that eight teams will share. This is something that we can get our hands on and we are close enough now to dream about doing it.”
But first they need to ensure they do not suffer the feat endured by other Premiership giants before them - defeat by Baroka. - The Star