Bafana Bafana coach Stuart Baxter has leapt to the defence of midfielder Dean Furman, saying that the SuperSport United captain is an asset to South African football.

Furman was the standout performer for the national side as he was handed the Man of the Match award for his efforts in the goalless Afcon qualifier against Libya on Saturday.

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The former Bafana Bafana captain ran the midfield as he offered a steel and work rate matched by nobody else on the field. He also came close to opening the scoring when his lofted effort skimmed the top of the net.

Despite his impressive showing, Furman was subjected to jeers from sections of the crowd in attendance at the Moses Mabhida Stadium.

Speaking at the post-match press-conference, Baxter praised Furman for his performance before questioning those who doubt him.

‘I thought Dean was outstanding this evening. I thought Keagan Dolly was excellent as well,’ said Baxter, who was sitting alongside Furman.

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‘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 … 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.

‘It is not criticising any individual sitting in here … we all need to take responsibility for the development of this game and constant negativity to certain players or the whole of South African football doesn’t encourage anybody.

‘So as Dean says, we know what’s gone down tonight. We know we should have won. We are disappointed and we will analyse and try and come back stronger.

‘But I have to say that players like Dean, he puts his heart and soul into every game and I think we all need to ask ourselves a question, are we fair enough with the criticism or maybe not?

‘I feel Dean does take, for me, a bit of unwarranted stick and I thought he was magnificent tonight,’ Baxter concluded.

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Photo: Samuel Shivambu/BackpagePix