Bafana goalkeeping spot too close to call – Baxter

Keet was chosen to replace the injured Itumeleng Khune, who will also miss Egypt 2019, for Bafana’s final Afcon qualifier against Libya in March, and performed superbly as Bafana won 2-1 to qualify for the tournament.

Williams, however, is well known to Baxter, having played under him in his time at SuperSport United, and has just won the Absa Premiership Goalkeeper of the Season award for the first time.

Bafana’s third-choice ‘keeper in Egypt, Bruce Bvuma, looks set to be there mainly as injury cover and for the experience, leaving a straight shoot-out between Keet and Williams to start against Ivory Coast on June 24.

READ: Baxter explains surprise Bafana selections, and omissions

Keet also had an issue with game time, as he was involved in a contract dispute with Bidvest Wits, and left out of the team, though he came back for the last game and a bit after Ricardo Goss was sent off for the Clever Boys against Baroka FC.

“Darren… called me and asked if he should play in the Cosafa Cup,
(but) that was before he came back into the Wits team,” said Baxter.

“With Ronwen and Darren it is so close, it usually comes down to the opponent and how they are in training and practice games and it will be the same (for the Afcon). With Ronwen, I sometimes feel he doesn’t think he is as good as we do. He is such a talented goalkeeper … maybe he has baggage he can’t put down, but he needs to believe in himself more. Darren has shown a strong mentality and is a stubborn player, he doesn’t want to lose that place (as number one).

“Maybe the award will help Ronwen put down the baggage and put him in a better space, so he can get the number one spot. It is a constant source of energy, to see those two and the young buck (Bvuma) going at it in training.”

For more news your way, download The Citizen’s app for iOS and Android.