Let me start by declaring what a serious Stuart Baxter fan I am.
The skrr skrr hip hop generation would say “I staan for Baxter”.
But I was as shocked and surprised as you to see Bruce Bvuma’s name on the latest Bafana Bafana squad list.
I thought Baxter had made a mistake when he read the name out, so I waited until I saw the list and the name was there under goalkeepers.
While I was busy trying to figure out a dignified way to ask “What the hell is Bvuma doing here, Stuart?”, someone beat me to it.
CONFLICT: Stuart Baxter. Photo: SYDNEY MAHLANGU/BACKPAGEPIX
I mean, this is a guy who has not even played 10 straight matches this season.
Sure he’s talented and has the goods to play at a top level.
Now I don’t know what went on behind the scenes when this decision was made.
But I can’t help but feel there is a major conflict of interest here.
I couldn’t help but feel like asking if Baxter is trying to boost his son’s CV here.
His son, Lee, is a goalkeeper coach at Chiefs, so basically there simply had to be a Chiefs goalie in the squad with Itumeleng Khune not available.
Then I thought, no I can’t do that, that’s not a question but rather an accusation.
Then I remembered that Shaun Bartlett, Chiefs assistant coach is also the Bafana assistant coach. That was strike two!
Baxter talked about Bvuma being “a player they have worked with and one for the future” and I remembered a certain Brandon Petersen who was also part of the Bafana squad at some stage.
UNLUCKY: Brandon Petersen. Photo: BACKPAGEPIX
What is it that Petersen didn’t do when he was part of the Bafana squad?
I mean, he is the captain of a team that is in second place in the NFD right now and he has years and years of experience, way more than Bvuma, who still has to celebrate 20 consecutive appearances in the PSL and they are just a year apart.
Bvuma was born on 15 May 1995 (age 23) and Petersen was born on 22 September 1994 (age 24), so age can’t be the issue here.
There must be something special about Bvuma that only the national selectors see.
They can insist that there is no conflict of interest, but I see something completely different.
Surely Baxter knew the reaction was going to be like this, maybe he didn’t consult his peers or if he did, he chose to be stubborn.
NO BACKING: Neil Tovey. Photo: MUZI NTOMBELA/BACKPAGEPIX
This is where I think the technical head at Safa, Neil Tovey should have come out and been part of the announcement.
Tovey himself, is a former national team player and seasoned professional footballer, so his backing of such a decision would give it much more weight.
That Tovey was not part of the show, means he was not part of the decision.
And that means Baxter is doing as he pleases. Because when Bra Shakes did such argh let me shut up and pray Bafana to do well against Libya, then Baxter and I can have our one on one!
dailyvoice@inl.co.za