Baxter backs young guns

CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA - OCTOBER 19: Stuart Baxter Head Coach of Kaizer Chiefs during the Absa Premiership match between Ajax Cape Town and Kaizer Chiefs at Cape Town Stadium on October 19, 2014 in Cape Town, South Africa. (Photo by Luigi Bennett/Gallo Images)

CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA - OCTOBER 19: Stuart Baxter Head Coach of Kaizer Chiefs during the Absa Premiership match between Ajax Cape Town and Kaizer Chiefs at Cape Town Stadium on October 19, 2014 in Cape Town, South Africa. (Photo by Luigi Bennett/Gallo Images)

Published Feb 23, 2015

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Kaizer Chiefs coach Stuart Baxter says their last 32 Nedbank Cup clash against Edu Sports FC has given him a fresh perspective on how to line-up his chargers when they take on Botswana’s Township Rollers in their preliminary round, second leg Caf Champions League encounter on Saturday.

Amakhosi travel to Gaborone on a high after having bounced back from their first Absa Premiership defeat – against SuperSport United (2-0) on Tuesday – to hand out a 4-0 lesson to the Third Division side at the weekend in the Ke Yona Cup.

Baxter said his charges need to step up in their second meeting against Rollers, after their lacklustre performance at FNB Stadium when defender Tefu Mashamaite’s added time winner saved their blushes.

“Our second leg will be centred on performing,” Baxter said.

“That’s why I rested some of our key players – apart from the fact that I wanted to assess a few players.

“I wanted to see how hungry they were in pushing for a starting line-up berth (for their remaining fixtures).

“It’s going to be a tough evening and the players are aware of that. That’s why we have to go out there and perform.”

A player who certainly stepped up and performed this past weekend was 24 year old midfielder Hendrick “Pule” Ekstein, who came on for Siyabonga Nkosi in the 71st minute.

He put in a splendid performance which had the crowd cheering each time he was on the ball.

Other unfamiliar faces in Amakhosi’s line up included new signing David Zulu, right-back Kgotso Moleko, midfielder Ovidy Karuru, 20-year-old centre-back Lorenzo Gordinho and left-back Simphiwe Mtshwene.

Baxter said he was impressed with a few of the players who will form part of his plans looking ahead.

“Pule was fantastic when he came on,” he said. “He was very lively and he understood his instructions.

“He took some responsibility in helping in defence.

“Players like Pule don’t have to defend too much, but he took it upon himself to help out in defence whenever the need arose. I was impressed by that.

“When you play your fringe players, as a coach the first thing you expect is for them to raise their hands up for selection.

“In this case, maybe a couple did and maybe a couple didn’t. But I’ll try to rotate players as much as possible in the remaining fixtures. This will help ease the burden on the experienced players.”

Meanwhile, former Chiefs and Mamelodi Sundowns player Johannes “Bricks” Mudau said he was impressed with how his young side played against the log leaders. And, though his side were unable to score, Mudau said the experience would prove key for his players’ development.

“I’m happy with the boys, especially the way they played in the first half,” said the Edu Sports coach. “The plan was to contain them in the first half, particularly the first 20 minutes.

“Yes, we are out of the competition, but I’m happy with how the boys played against a strong side like Chiefs. They performed well. The level of competitiveness between the leagues showed.” - The Star

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