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Cape Town - Bafana Bafana head coach Stuart Baxter seems to already have a rocky relationship with the South African Football Association (SAFA) after questioning the decision to host Libya in Durban on Saturday.
READ: Baxter: 'My son is the most qualified GK coach by a mile'
Baxter, who already had to deal with late injury withdrawals and changes to his technical team, questioned the decision to host an AFCON qualifier against sea-level Libya in Durban.
A picture is now being increasingly painted where a football association, instead of aiding the national team, is forcing Baxter to achieve results with one hand tied behind his back.
SAFA's decision to not host Saturday's fixture at altitude is believed to be due to financial constraints.
"I've always enjoyed playing in Durban - until Cape Verde‚ I suppose‚" Baxter told journalists.
"But the venue‚ as a sea-level venue for sea-level people‚ I suppose you would want to take them to altitude.
"I was told that was impossible.
"I don't want to go into the reasons and whys and wherefores. We're here. We're playing the game here.
"I've always enjoyed playing here before. I hope the people of Durban will get behind us.
"And it's up to the players now to make sure that that is not an issue. Because in football he who thinks he can and he who thinks he cannot are probably both right.
"It's up to us to say‚ 'we can'‚ and then get on with it."
