UQINISE idolo abadlali abashiyile umqeqeshi weBafana Bafana, uStuart Baxter, omemezele isikwati sabadlali abawu-23 abazothwala amathemba eNingizimu Afrika emqhudelwaneni i-Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon).
Izolo, uBaxter uqede ukuqagela esithangamini nabezindaba eMonte Casino eGauteng. Abadlali abasale ngaphandle nguBen Motshwari, Fortune Makaringe noKermit Erasmus.
Maphakathi nesonto uBaxter ubekade ebabaza ukuzinikela kwabadlali ekhempini okubalwa kubona uMakaringe osezoyibamba kwiPirates.
Nokho ubaduduze ngokuthi wethemba ukuthi ukubizwa kwabo kwiBafana kuzobakhuthaza.
“Angijwayele ukukusho lokhu ngoba angifuni kuzwakale sengathi ngikhipha izimfihlo. Ngithemba ukuthi ukuqokwa esikwatini sabadlali abawu-28 esiqale ngabo kuzobagqugquzela. Ngikhulume noKermit emizuzwini ewu-10 edlule ngamtshela ukuthi usanda kubuyela ebholeni lakhe kwiCape Town City futhi wenza kahle. Bengifuna ukumtshela ukuthi wenza kahle yikho ngimbizile esikwatini. Kuze kuba wusuku lokugcina ubekade enza kahle kakhulu futhi ubenalo ithuba,” kusho uBaxter.
“Ngicabanga ukuthi sinabadlali abenele ezindaweni abazidlalayo futhi bekudingeka ngibheke abadlali abambalwa ukwenza isiqiniseko. Ngithemba ukuthi naye uzoyibona ngaleyo ndlela. Abanye abadlali ababili abasesiswini. Ngifisa ukuthi nabo bakubone ukuqokwa njengegxathu eliya phambili ebholeni labo. Ukuzimisela kwabo kwenze kwangaba lula kimina ukubadonsela eceleni ngibatshele ukuthi bazosala. Kodwa bobathathu bashaye into ecokeme ekhempini. Ngithemba ukuthi bazobakhombisa abantu ukuthi kungani bekade beqokelwe kule khempu, bangakuvumeli lokhu kubakhubaze.”
Abanye abadlali abebevele bengasekho eqenjini ayebabizile uBaxter nguKeagan Dolly olimele noRivaldo Coetzee okhale ngokugulelwa unina. Ngaphezu kwalokho uBaxter ngeke esahamba nabadlali beqembu lika-Under 23 ayetshele abezindaba ukuthi uzohamba nabo ukuze bayothola amava okudlala emqhudelwaneni omkhulu ngenxa yokuntuleka kwenkece kwiSouth African Football Association (Safa).
IBafana izofulathela uMzansi namuhla ilibhekise eDubai lapho izodlala khona umdlalo wobungani neGhana ngoMgqibelo. Emuva kwalokho izoqhubekela e-Egypt lapho izodlala khona owobungani ne-Angola ngoJuni 19.
UBaxter uzwakalise ukukhathazeka ngokuthi bazohamba bengasadlalanga nowodwa umdlalo wokuzicija phambi kwabalandeli baseMzansi.
“Ngeke ngisho ukuthi angikhathazekile ngoba impela ngikhathazekile. Bekuzoba mnandi kubalandeli bethu ukuchitha isikhathi nabo nokuthi basifake emgqeni ukuze sazi ukuthi yini esisebenzela kuyona. Kodwa umhlaba awuyona le nto esiyifunayo, kufanele siqhubeke. Sikwenzile okungangathi. UBarney (Kujane) ulwe kanzima ukuthi sithole inkundla esizodlalela kuyona ngenxa yemicimbi eyahlukene eyenzekayo. Sekufanele sibhekane nomsebenzi ophambi kwethu,” kusho uBaxter.
IBafana ikuGroup D lapho izoqhuthana khona ne-Ivory Coast, Morocco neNamibia. Izovula ne-Ivory Coast ngoJuni 24.
Iqembu leBafana Bafana elizoyibamba kwi-Africa Cup of Nations:
Onozinti: Darren Keet, Ronwen Williams, Bruce Bvuma
Izitobha: Thulani Hlatshwayo, Buhle Mkhwanazi, Sifiso Hlanti, Thamsanqa Mkhize, Ramahlwe Mphahlele, Innocent Maela, Daniel Cardoso,
Abasesiswini: Bongani Zungu, Kamohelo Mokotjo, Dean Furman, Hlompho Kekana, Tiyani Mabunda, Thulani Serero, Thembinkosi Lorch, Lebohang Maboe, Themba Zwane.
Amafolosi: Percy Tau, Lebo Mothiba, Sibusiso Vilakazi, Lars Veldwijk