Booth On Jali & Zwane Bafana Snubs

Former Bafana Bafana star Matthew Booth has shared his sympathies with players like Andile Jali and Themba Zwane on their continuous omissions from Hugo Broos’s Bafana squads. 

Booth has spoken about the Zwane and Jali situation as compared to his own situation back then when he was in Russia for six years and never got a single call-up for the duration of his stay. 

“ My situation in comparison to Zwane and Jali was a little different because I was on a different continent, ” Booth told iDiski Times writer Joshua Hendricks. 

“ It still hurts me, but it was a case of out of sight out of mind. For them I think it must hurt a lot more because they’ve just run away with the league, they were instrumental in doing so for their team. The coach actually picked them out and mentioned why they were not in line for the selection, I can’t agree with that. 

Booth made a loan move from Mamelodi Sundowns to FC Rostov, and eventually signed a permanent deal after his loan had ended. He also went on to play for KS Samara in Russia too, where he made most of his appearances in Europe.

“If a player doesn’t suit your style then just keep quiet, ” continued the former Ajax Cape Town player.  

“You don’t have to explain yourself, because ultimately those players are listening and you don’t wanna hurt players in that regard.

“They are both really strong characters, really experienced, they’ve had a great season, they’ve won the treble and so I don’t think it will be too much in that regard. From an ego point of view, they must be wanting to get back in the team and prove him wrong.”

Click below to read the FREE digital version of the iDiski Times newspaper, with interviews with Noko Matlou, Amogelang Motau, Vasili Manousakis, and Jackson Mabokgwane chatting. There is also a special feature on new Kaizer Chiefs signing Kamohelo Mahlatsi, a look at who the new Orlando Pirates coach Jose Riveiro is, plus we have two great columns, transfer rumours and much more!