Kaizer Chiefs defender Lorenzo Gordinho has backed newly-appointed Bafana Bafana coach Stuart Baxter to select youngsters, despite the Scotsman’s history of choosing more experienced players.

The South African Football Association reappointed Baxter as the man to lead the national team, but concerns were raised by fans, based on the former Chiefs mentor’s reliance on more senior players. However, Gordinho is adamant that Baxter will utilise the quality youth that the country has to offer.

‘It’s good for the country to have him [Baxter],’ he told Times Live.

‘He has done a lot with us and SuperSport. He understands what he wants as a coach and he understands South African players.

‘He is a coach that picks players based on performance, so if I do well I think he will have a look at me,’ he added.

The 23-year-old defender rubbished claims that Baxter will only select older players, highlighting the mentor ‘s use of youngsters at both Chiefs and SuperSport United.

‘Of course he looks at youngsters. He’s got a vision for the football he wants and he knows without younger players, there’s no future for that vision. At Chiefs, there was me, [Simphiwe] Mtsweni, Philani Cele.

‘Now at SuperSport he’s got Mokoena, Aubrey Modiba, Denwin Farmer and Fagrie Lakay on the bench. It’s not like he is not looking to youngsters. He obviously has to balance between giving the youth a chance and getting results,’ he concluded.

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