Baxter encourages positive mindset ahead of Seychelles tussle

Stuart Baxter

Friday Oct 12, 2018. 13:00

South Africa will be overwhelming favourites when they take to the field against the Seychelles in Soweto on Saturday, but considering the country's poor record against so called 'underdogs', it is no surprise that some quarters are worried about what might transpire in the next week.

Bafana Bafana are at home to the Islanders before taking on the same opponents in Victoria on Tuesday.

The Seychelles currently occupy 189th spot in the latest FIFA World Rankings and are the lowest ranked team in the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.

Stuart Baxter, though, wants his troops to focus on what they have to win, instead of what they have to lose with six points from a possible six to fire South Africa into a strong position with two qualifiers remaining.

“Nigeria has some of the guys that are playing in the highest leagues in the world and earning a lot more money than our boys, and yet still they had the same challenge,” said Baxter.

“[Their coach Gernot Rohr] said until they scored the first goal it was very difficult, and I’ve also seen Libya’s game against Seychelles and until they scored the first goal it was difficult, because you don’t really know where your head space is.

Baxter continued: "Now, the only thing I can say to the players is that one, I think we have a lot to win so let’s focus on that. What we have to lose, I couldn’t care less. But what we have to win is big.

“And I want us to look at this not as if we disrespect our opponents, but just that we believe in ourselves. I think if we concentrate on how strong we want to be then I think we push to the back or even out of our mind the risks that we’re taking.”

The Seychelles suffered a 5-1 defeat to Libya before a 3-0 loss to Nigeria in the opening two rounds of qualifiers.