As Bafana Bafana prepare for their first match under the new coach, Stuart Baxter, against Nigeria we take a look at how his team might differ from his predecessor, Shakes Mashaba’s.

Baxter And Rantie Talks Final Preparations

Baxter was announced as the new South African national team head coach on 15 May, after parting ways with Mashaba at the end of December 2016 and the Englishman will be looking to rejuvenate the team that failed to qualify for the 2017 edition of the Africa Cup of Nations in Gabon.

Looking at Mashaba’s final starting XI in the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Senegal on 12 November 2016, the most notable change will be the man that found himself on the scoresheet that day, Thulani Serero, whose troubled season with Ajax Amsterdam saw him fail to play enough minutes to justify a position in Baxter’s squad.

The same applies for the starting striker on that day, Eleazar Rodgers, with the likes of Percy Tau, Lebogang Manyama and Kermit Erasmus finding their way into the squad, having all enjoyed fine form in the recently closed season.

In midfield, Andile Jali picked up an injury and was withdrawn from the squad, while Mpho Makola didn’t make the cut and Tiyani Mabunda, who only joined the squad following Hlompho Kekana’s injury, is unlikely to start, considering that he wasn’t in Baxter’s original plans.

Finally, in defence, Thabo Matlaba has failed to make the team, while the other three starting defenders in Mashaba’s final game, Thulani Hlatshwayo, Rivaldo Coetzee and Erick Mathoho will not need to fight for their starting roles in the middle due to Coetzee’s and Mathoho’s respective injuries sustained in recent days. Lorenzo Gordinho is the only other natural centre back available. As has frequently been the case in recent years, Itumeleng Khune will likely be the starting goalkeeper in Baxter’s team, especially considering that the Chiefs’ star has played under the Englishman’s tutelage in years gone by.

Right back (Hlatshwayo): Ramahlwe Mphahlele, Abubaker Mobara

Baxter has named Thulani Hlatshwayo as his captain for the trip to Nigeria, but Hlatshwayo’s natural position is in a central defensive role and it’s unlikely that Baxter will opt to play him on the right again. Ramahlwe Mphahlele is Baxter’s only natural option at right back, but Abubaker Mobara did play at a right back for Orlando Pirates against Polokwane City in October last year and could be considered as another option. However, considering Mphahlele’s well-received debut season at Kaizer Chiefs, he is the probable candidate for the role, especially if Erick Mathoho is chosen as Hlatshwayo’s partner in the middle of the back four

Left back (Matlaba): Sifiso Hlanti, Tebogo Langerman

The Bidvest Wits fullback played a key role in The Students’ title-winning Absa Premiership campaign, but has only two caps to his name, while Tebogo Langerman played an equally important role for Mamelodi Sundowns in the season gone by, which included the victorious CAF Champions League campaign. With 27 Bafana caps to his name, Baxter may opt to entrust the starting role to the more experienced player.

Central midfielders (Mabunda, Jali): Dean Furman, and Bongani Zungu

As mentioned above, Tiyani Mabunda’s initial exclusion from the squad means that it is highly unlikely that Baxter will opt to give him a starting role and both Andile Jali and Kamohelo Mokotjo picked up knocks while on camp. Dean Furman was a regular in Stuart Baxter’s SuperSport United team in the recently closed season and seems a likely option to play alongside Portuguese Cup finalist and Vitoria Guimaraes midfielder, Bongani Zungu.

Attacking midfielders (Serero and Makola): Sibusiso Vilakazi, Themba Zwane, Lebogang Manyama

Themba Zwane, who has been in exceptional form for Mamelodi Sundowns over the past season, will likely adopt Mpho Makola’s attacking midfield role and link up with two former teammates in the form of Zungu and Montpellier winger, Keagan Dolly. Meanwhile, Lebogang Manyama has the star at Cape Town City, will provide a goalscoring option and made more than twice as many league appearances than Vilakazi, who is the other option for Baxter

Striker (Rodgers): Thamsanqa Gabuza, Percy Tau, Kermit Erasmus

With Tokelo Rantie picking up a knock while on camp, Baxter has three natural strikers at his disposal. Gabuza was frequently picked by Shakes Mashaba due to the options that he brings in the air, but Percy Tau is considered a future star of the team and could be selected due to his exceptional form that saw him score seven and assist another seven goals in 29 league appearances for Mamelodi Sundowns this season. Erasmus, on the other hand, made 19 combined appearances in the French Ligue 1 and Ligue 2 this season and only scored once, but his experience abroad may count in his favour.

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