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Stuart Baxter soon to begin his second stint as Bafana Bafana coach,
the question of who he will name as his captain has been thrown around.
Bidvest Wits coach Gavin Hunt believes Baxter should look no further than the Students' title winning skipper Thulani Hlatshwayo, who led the national team a number of times under the sacked Shakes Mashaba.
Hunt and Baxter had an extensive conversation before the Englishman named his first squad, and the Wits coach has revealed that he told the new Bafana boss to consider giving the armband to Hlatshwayo.
“Well I think if you’re going to go into a new era‚ new dawn‚ new feel‚ and you want to build your team‚ I mean he (Hlatshwayo) is the perfect guy to build your team around‚” Hunt was quoted by Sowetan Live.
“I told Stuart that. If you want to build your team‚ he’s not going to be bashing down doors and screaming and shouting. But he’s going to lead with endeavour‚ and his professionalism on and off the field.
“But Stuart’s going to make a decision once he gets into camp and works with the players for a week.
“There are a few candidates‚ which is good. You need a few candidates. You want the team to work by itself. You want a lot of captains there.
“But‚ ja‚ if Stuart’s looking to go forward‚ (Hlatshwayo is a) good option.”
One of the things Mashaba was criticised for during his failed tenure as Bafana coach was his rotation of the captaincy - and goalkeepers - which didn't sit well with Hunt, who added that whoever was appointed captain was the coach's first name on the team sheet.
“For me that can’t work‚ hey. That can never work‚” Hunt said. “Obviously if there are injuries you have to. But you need to put your hat with somebody and go with somebody‚ and go feel it. And build your team around them for the next three or four years‚ or until the next campaign‚ at least.
“I’m sure Stuart will do that.”
