Baxter to Bafana Bafana reports bittersweet for SuperSport keeper Pieterse

SuperSport United head coach Stuart Baxter is currently in talks with the South African Football Association (Safa) over the prospect of making a return to the position he vacated in 2005.

Since taking over at Matsatsantsa in 2016, Baxter has guided SuperSport to a Nedbank Cup triumph and has his troops firmly in contention for the league title this season.

With Safa desperate to name a new coach in the near future, the 63-year-old appears likely to take over. It was reported this week that SuperSport are resigned to losing the Baxter and that they want the deal wrapped up by Friday.

Goalkeeper Reyaad Pieterse encouraged Baxter to go for the Bafana job, although he admitted that they would like to see him see remain at the club.

“At the end of the day we are all professionals and if the move will benefit Stuart (Baxter) and his family, I think he should go for it,” Pieterse told Phakaaathi.

“For us as a club, we are just happy to have him there and learn from him as much as we can. We would love for him to stay on,” he said.

The former Amakhosi goalkeeper has been in scintillating form this season, and has credited his impressive displays to the work done with goalkeeper coach Andre Arendse.

“Coach Andre (Arendse) is a top goalkeeper coach,” Pieterse said.

“He is the one who has worked with top internationals as well. So, he has got all the experience. It has been really good working with him and he helps us a lot.”

“His drills have been good together with the competition. The coach at the end of the day has the final say. We are a good unit, a good bunch, we work very hard to do the best that we can and support each other,” Pieterse concluded.