Former Bafana Bafana coach Stuart Baxter has outlined what ultimately led to his decision to vacate the job after the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations.
Baxter last week announced he has quit as head coach of the men's senior national team after just two years at the helm, despite having three more years running on his contract.
READ: Baxter calls it quits with Bafana
Amid a variety of issues both internal and external, the British tactician navigated the team to the quarterfinals of the biennial continental showpiece, much to the surprise of many South Africans.
Despite this, he explained that his decision to step down was well thought out over the weeks since returning from Cairo, and ultimately a combination of factors motivated his resignation.
"When I took the job [for the first time in 2006], from day one people were questioning and wanting to be confrontational, so this time people knew me because I've won everything you can win in this country at club level," outlined Baxter.
"But even then, from some people there was no level of patience. It was in the front [pages] that I was the national coach; 'why wasn't this guy or that guy the coach?'
READ: SAFA to pin down Baxter's replacement
"So, even from then, it doesn't develop into headbutting, it grows from headbutting to throwing hand-grenades. So, I'm not sure we were all on the same page, because even when I started it was, 'Let's destabilise; let's throw a hand grenade in there.'
"And I'm at the point where I think, well there's that and do I really believe that because of the implementation, we will get where we want to go?
"I don't think I'm the right person to do that, because I don't think that is the [sort of baggage one should be carrying]. I think you need someone that's got a clean bill of health, so to say, and can just be optimistic and positive and do the proper work."