Bafana Bafana coach Stuart Baxter believes Lee Baxter is the most qualified coach in South Africa to replace Andre Arendse as their goalkeeper coach.

Lee was called up to the national team to replace Arendse as the national team’s goalkeeping coach, who withdrew due to family commitments ahead of their 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Libya at the Moses Mabhida Stadium on Saturday.

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The 42-year-old has previously worked as a goalkeeper coach in Sweden, including working with his father at Turkish side Genclerbirligi and SuperSport United.

The Bafana mentor insists that appointing his son was the best decision for the national team as he has worked closely with Itumeleng Khune and Ronwen Williams.

‘I have to say that I’ll be massively, massively surprised if there is any reaction whatsoever,’ Baxter told the media.

‘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 [Williams] and he knows probably half the squad.

‘We don’t have time to go wandering around the country interviewing people, bringing people in.

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‘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.’

He added: ‘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”.

‘I don’t expect there to be a lot of opinions about the selection, but I do understand where you are coming from.’

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Photo: Gerhard Duraan/BackpagePix