Bafana Bafana coach Stuart Baxter has suggested that Orlando Pirates utility man Abbubaker Mobara will be used in defence for the national team if he is to play against Nigeria on Saturday.

The former Kaizer Chiefs mentor included Mobara alongside seven other defenders in his 25-man squad which will do duty against The Supr Eagles and not only did Baxter sing the praises of the former Ajax Cape Town man, but the 63-year-old mentor also admitted that he once tried to sign Mobara, presumably during Baxter’s his time at Chiefs.

“I like Mobara as a player. I tried to sign him at one stage,” he told Sowetan live.

“I like him as a defender. I think in the PSL he can equip himself well in midfield.

“My spin on it is if he is going to be competing for a place, he has a better chance possibly as a full back and in an emergency at centre back,” he added.

Baxter, like many other people fondly remembers the excellent job Mobara did in nullifying the threat of Barcelona and Brazil international superstar Neymar in the opening encounter of the Olympics in Brazil last year.

“I saw him play against Brazil in the Olympics and he played well against Neymar. His one-versus-one defending was excellent.

“His calmness on the ball when he got into the opponent’s half was also good, so I see him competing for a place there,” he concluded.

Mobara is expected to compete with the likes of Ramahlwe Mphahlele, Rivaldo Coetzee, Thulani Hlatshwayo, Eric Mathoho and Lorenzo Gordinho for a starting-berth.

Photo: Chris Ricco/BackpagePix