Baxter considers roping in Bafana legend Fish
Bafana Bafana coach Stuart Baxter is still in search of a technical team member to join him for their upcoming trip to Egypt for the 2019 Afcon.
DURBAN, SOUTH AFRICA – APRIL 07: during the Women’s International Friendly match South Africa and Jamaica at Moses Mabhida Stadium on April 07, 2019 in Durban, South Africa. (Photo by Anesh Debiky/Gallo Images)
Baxter is looking at bringing in Bafana Bafana legend Mark Fish to join his technical team for the Afcon.
The former Kaizer Chiefs and SuperSport United coach revealed that he has spoken to Fish about his availability after Quinton Fortune was unable to join the team.
“We’re talking about the actual coaching‚ and with the loading‚ we [Baxter and Ntseki] can manage that‚” Baxter said on Thursday. “The more important part was to get somebody who could partly be with the squad – let’s call it player support. Someone who could get around the players and ask them‚ ‘How you are feeling‚ is the food OK‚ how’s the family?’
“That sort of thing‚ and then‚ also be a scout. Quinton would have been OK. Quinton can’t do it. We’re contemplating someone like Mark Fish‚ for example‚ who’s very well known. So‚ after Afcon‚ if he was to get on a plan and visit one of our young players they’d know Mark Fish. I’ve spoken to Mark. He’s considering his availability‚ and we’ll take it from there.”
Baxter is aware that Fish does not have much experience in coaching but believes his presence could be beneficial for the team.
“No‚ Mark’s not a coach. He’s a very experienced football person. And he can understand what I’m looking for‚” said Baxter. “When I send someone to monitor a team for me they’re only looking at maybe four or five things. I don’t want to know how the left-back laces his boots. What we need to know is how do they attack on transition? How do they attack when we are compact and they have got to break us down?
“How do they defend when we are on transition? How do they defend when we have the ball with our goalkeeper and they have their team organised. That’s all I need to know. The set plays we can analyse on DVD. Now‚ I think Mark is more than capable. I think having a coach for that‚ they would be over-qualified. I think Mark‚ if he knows what we want‚ can do it. At the sometime I think there’d be a bit of friction if we went to an overqualified person and asked them to do it.”
READ: Mosimane set to assist Baxter at Afcon
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