Stuart Baxter warns Kermit Erasmus to keep his head screwed on

Stuart Baxter has warned Kermit Erasmus that comments such as his infamous 2016 I'm not back-up player' Tweet will see him axed from the Bafana Bafana AFCON squad.

Baxter said he was not expecting any issues from the controversial Cape Town City striker and said that the warning extended to the entire squad and covered, private chats with staff, as well as social media, and contact with the press.

The coach warned his players against hot-headed interactions with the press or social media users.

If any of the squad that we've picked want to tell the leadership of the national team that they're not bench players then they'll be quickly removed from the list Baxter warned.

I don't think that in a sensible moment Kermit would make that sort of comment.

But I can understand when people tell him You should be in the squad' and [say things like] Why not this?' and Why not that?'.

An excitable Kermit may make a throwaway comment like that.

Stuart Baxter gives no guaranteesBaxter said that unlike club football, in the national team set-up, no player could be guaranteed a place in the starting XI.

Rather than listen to players in their disappointment I would rather select them for the squad and in a calm moment have a discussion about I can't guarantee you a place', Baxter added.

And about [City coach] Benni McCarthy has been able to guarantee Kermit a place and put his arm round him and make him feel some love.

If it's only playing that's the criteria then you can't attach yourself to a national team.

The same way as [Karim] Benzema could not be guaranteed a place in the French [World Cup-winning team] I can't guarantee Kermit a place in our team.

Baxter has gathered his 30-man training squad ahead of the AFCON Finals that get underway in Egypt on 21 June. Bafana Bafana will deploy a separate squad to compete in the Cosafa Cup.

Tags: AfconBafana BafanaStuart Baxter

LINK:	https://www.thesouthafrican.com/sport/stuart-baxter-warns-kermit-erasm...
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