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Cape Town - Bafana Bafana head coach Stuart Baxter has defended his decision to call-up his son Lee Baxter as a goalkeeper coach for the men's national team after the late withdrawal of Andre Arendse.
READ: Baxter calls up son to fill void as Bafana goalkeeper coach
Baxter's decision has faced intense scrutiny with fans accusing him of nepotism for calling up his son who he has worked with previously in Turkey and most recently at SuperSport United.
"I have to say that, I'll be massively, massively surprised if there is any reaction whatsoever," Baxter said about Lee's appointment at a press conference at the Hilton hotel in Durban.
"Because Andre pulls out at the very last minute, Lee is the most qualified coach in this country by a mile. Lee has worked with me in Turkey and at SuperSport United, and [AmaZulu fitness trainer] Joshua Smith in the technical team. He's the current coach of Itu [Khune]. He has worked with 'Ronza' [Ronwen Williams] and he knows probably half the squad.
"We don't have time to go wandering around the country interviewing people, bringing people in. There's no one really else I've worked with.
"For the good of the country, for the good of the squad, the only thing I think we were concerned about is if Chiefs, given their situation, would release him now. They have been good enough to do that.
"So if anybody sees anything else other than it is the best and most viable decision I could make, I'll be massively surprised.
"Both Ronza and Itu actually petitioned the football association in getting [him to] camp.
"Of course you know that people are going to have opinions about that and they're going to say, 'well, no, he's got his son in, this and that'.
"But Lee is the best qualified goalkeeper coach in the country by a country mile.
"So I don't expect there to be a lot of opinions about the selection, but I do understand where you are coming from."
Bafana Bafana take on Libya in an AFCON qualifier at the Moses Mabhida Stadium on Saturday.
Kick-off is at 15:00.
