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FORTUNE’S JOB ON THE LINE

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Stuart Baxter (left) could part ways with Quinton Fortune.
Stuart Baxter (left) could part ways with Quinton Fortune.
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QUINTON Fortune’s appointment has been shrouded in controversy and now he could be on his way out of Bafana Bafana.

The feeling among the football public has invariably been that Fortune was parachuted into the position of an assistant Bafana coach on the basis of his legendary status and not on merit.

Stuart Baxter had always maintained the appointment was not yet permanent, but said he would recommend Fortune for the position on a long-term basis.

The Bafana head coach had a major say in the selection of Fortune as his temporary lieutenant, alongside Thabo Senong.

But according to sources close to Safa, Baxter is not so sure of his technical team anymore.

Contained in a report he submitted to the Safa technical committee recently, Baxter is believed to have indicated his intention to change his assistants, including Thabo Senong.

Baxter has come under fire following South Africa’s failure to qualify for the 2018 World Cup in Russia.

The role of Fortune, as Baxter outlined it, is that of a European based assistant and liaison to the overseas-based players.

Over and above keeping tabs on the likes of Kamohelo Mokotjo and Andile Jali, Fortune would have to submit regular reports to Baxter, in a scenario that would be advantageous to Bafana.

But Fortune’s lack of coaching experience, which has often been questioned, was brought into focus following Bafana’s latest disaster.

The former Bafana and Manchester United midfielder has completed several coaching badges in Europe.

Yet he has never been in the “hot seat” and earn his stripes, as he’s only ever served as an assistant coach at Cardiff City’s Under 20 side.

This and other concerns are understood to be cited in the report, which should help give Safa a clear direction as to their next steps, in the year Bafana will be sitting idle without enough competitive matches.

“We’ve got a few other names that we are whittling through, and they’re not all as straightforward as Quinton‚ because he’s not attached to anybody,” said Baxter, when Fortune joined his team.

“So I would imagine this one would be quite quick.”

But it appears that may no longer as quite as quick.

The involvement of Fortune has already earned Safa the ire of the Bafana followers, with many pointing to his history of turning his back on Bafana.

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