Baxter calls for discipline

After hearing the news that his defender Morgan Gould had been handed a two-match ban by the Premier Soccer League (PSL) on Tuesday, Kaizer Chiefs boss Stuart Baxter praised Gould for 'taking it on the chin' and accepting his punishment.

 

Gould was handed the ban and a R50 000 fine for punching Wits striker Getaneh Kebede during a Premiership clash earlier this month.

 

“We can have no qualms about Morgan’s punishment. When something like that happens, as a club you have to distance yourselves from that sort of behaviour," Baxter said on Wednesday night.

 

“He is being disciplined by the club. You just have to lay yourself down completely flat and take whatever you get right on the chin.

 

“Morgan’s done that. He’s very remorseful and we as a club have said we don’t want that sort of behaviour from our players."

 

The Amakhosi centre-back appeared in front of a PSL disciplinary committee, after being charged with assault.

 

Gould was shown to have connected a hefty blow to Kebede's face in Chiefs' 2-1 victory over the Clever Boys at FNB Stadium on November 9.

 

“As a club, we just want to move on after this Morgan Gould thing," Baxter added.

 

But a red card for right-back Josta Dladla in Wednesday's 4-1 league victory over Polokwane City left Baxter questioning his team's restraint and warned his troops to cut out ill-discipline on the pitch.

 

“I wasn’t too happy about Josta getting a red card," Baxter said.

 

“I think our discipline on the field reflects some of the short-comings we’ve been showing in terms of focusing on our game-plan and clinical finishing.

 

“I would like to see all off that cut out so we’re not in front of any more committees, and we can deal with it in-house."

 

Baxter said Gould would have to fight for his place in Chiefs' starting line-up after Erick Mathoho came in for the suspended player and, in the process, scored Amakhosi's first goal of the night against City, setting the team on course for the 4-1 demolition.

 

“I’m guessing Mathoho was chomping at the bit - scoring a goal and playing quite well. I think that’s healthy.

 

“Morgan knows if he’s loaned his shirt to Mathoho, he will not want to give it back… not in a hurry.

 

“We have so many games and we’ll have to rotate the players anyway, so when Morgan gets his chance, he’s going to have to take it."

 

Gould was also ordered to submit a written apology to Kebede within seven days which would be published on the PSL’s website.

 

Furthermore, Chiefs had to submit proof of payment of the club’s internal fine on the player within the same time frame.

 

Gould's suspension would come to an end after Chiefs' tricky away trip to Free State Stars on Saturday.

 

- Sapa