Baxter: Anyone who criticises Furman doesn't know football

Cape Town - Bafana Bafana head coach Stuart Baxter has staunchly defended midfielder Dean Furman, saying those who are critical of the player "don't know football".

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Furman produced a solid display in Bafana Bafana's 0-0 draw against Libya in an AFCON 2019 qualifier at the Moses Mabhida Stadium on Saturday that saw him voted as the Man of the Match.

Some sections of the Durban crowd though could be heard jeering the 47-capped enforcer who continues to receive criticism from the public.

"I think one thing that comes to mind is the fact that I thought Dean was outstanding this evening," Baxter told journalists in his post-match press conference. "I thought Keagan Dolly was excellent as well.

"I know that when we select the team there's always someone that pops his hand up and says, 'what about Dean Furman and why is he playing? What about Keagan Dolly, why is he playing?'

"When you make that sort of comment I mean people must feel pretty silly when he puts in the performance he did tonight. Dean is an asset to South Africa and I think anybody that doesn't see that doesn't know football."

Baxter made similar comments last week regarding the public's football intelligence on calling up his son Lee, as a goalkeeper coach but has now denied those claims.

"I didn't say that people don't know football. What I said, if you listened to me, was I don't understand any criticism of me bringing in Lee in the camp. He's the most qualified goalkeeper coach in this country."