No mandate for Baxter at Afcon, says Safa
Governing body says Bafana should try to win but there’s no pressure on the coach
Jubilant scenes greeted national squad Bafana Bafana when they arrived at OR Tambo Airport on Tuesday after qualifying for the Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon), and coach Stuart Baxter was further boosted by the SA Football Association’s (Safa) declaration that the Briton would not be burdened with a mandate at the continental event in Egypt in June. Safa vice-president Ria Ledwaba said Baxter’s only mandate was to qualify for the biennial tournament. However, as far as the showpiece itself is concerned‚ the Briton and his players have not been asked to set targets at the competition. “We are not going to say we don’t want to win the tournament‚” said Ledwaba after the team’s arrival on Tuesday morning. “I’m sure all South Africans want to see the team being in the final and they want to see them bringing back the trophy. “That will be good for South Africa but we are not going to put any kind of mandate to say ‘go to the final’. “We have qualified for Egypt and the team must go there ...
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