Publications
Partners
Cape Town - Bafana Bafana coach Stuart Baxter believes striker Lars Veldwijk can have an impact off the bench should the national team be behind against Libya.
The 27-year-old is enjoying a productive season in Holland having hit 17 goals in 29 appearances for Sparta Rotterdam.
"What's changed is that this is a one-off game. This is not a building or development [game], this is a one-off game," said the Scotsman mentor.
"Selecting the squad, I've left other players out, Dino Ndlovu who I like a lot, Bradley Grobler who I like a lot, because I feel that Lars will have the ability to impact the game from the bench.
"I'm not giving you the team now or the team that's in my mind, but I can see a situation where with 15 minutes to go if we are chasing the game and we bring on Lars with his physical stature, then I think him plus Lebo [Mothiba], plus Percy [Tau] feeding off them and wing backs going really high and whipping balls into their box, I can see that picture being a sort of go-to shape.
"He needs to work a lot with me to understand that. He will have that in his baggage. I think he is a good addition to the squad in this situation. And also, he's been scoring goals and that's not something we should underestimate."
Bafana are set to face the Mediterranean Knights in a crucial Group E Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier later this month in Tunisia.
The fixture will take place on Sunday, March 24 at the Stade Taieb Mhiri in Tunisia, with kick-off at 18:00 (SA time).
South Africa are currently in second place in Group E on 9 points while Nigeria have accumulated 10 points and have already qualified despite having to still play the Seychelles.
Libya (7 points) find themselves with a chance to head to Egypt in June for the tournament - but only if they beat Bafana Bafana.
Baxter's charges only need a point (a draw or win) to qualify.
Meanwhile, the draw for the 24-team tournament will take place on Friday, April 12.
