Defenders Who Impressed Booth In 21/22

Matthew Booth has given his opinion on which central defenders impressed him in the DStv Premiership last season.

The former Fish Hoek AFC player is better known for captaining the Amaglug-glug squad that outdid itself at the Sydney Olympics. Every time he touched the ball in a match, the crowd would scream, BOOOOTH! This is definitely a supporter’s gesture that made him a fan favourite.

“A special mention must go to Letlabika at Swallows, I think despite the handball in the playoffs he’s been superb for Dylan Kerr,” Matthew Booth told iDiski Times.

“If you consider him being the skipper and getting the troops up and running for every game. Considering what was going on behind the scenes with finances at Swallows, he was fantastic.

“The CB pairing of the season would probably be Fasika and Fielies. They were great for City, very calm under pressure. Adding a bit of pressure aerially for City, that looks like a great partnership going into next season.

The former Sundowns defender has strong feelings with regard to development and believes that as a nation we should target LFA football and better educate our coaches down there. That our talent pool lacks depth and that we need to have more players playing in Europe like previous generations.

“I think also Grant Kekana coming from right-back at SuperSport United into a Sundowns team at right centre back, he slotted in effortlessly, ” continued the former Rostov player.

“He did well, despite the fact that Sundowns saw a lot of possession during the game. He was different class in that position, especially considering that he had a number of Centre back partners, in Onyango and Lebusa.

“Another mention must go to Manganyi at Royal AM, I think he lost Lingwathi and Rikhotso, during the season, especially towards the latter stages of the season. To partner up with the likes of Gumede in a different formation, he was a rock for them.

Booth is also involved in a company called Artificial Grass SA, in a consultancy role. He also believes that artificial grass in conjunction with development can be a game-changer when developing young footballers but it needs good management and programs that would make adequate use of it.

“I think Kwinika at Stellenbosch, he was great, ‘ added Booth.

“Playing in a back four and a back three, right centre back and in the middle of a back three as well. So he is able to play in a variety of different roles. He was invariably the first player in the team to play the progressive pass forward. He started a lot of their attacks and was very calm, assured and matured really well.

“I have to mention Ndah for Pirates, it has been well documented that Pirates centre-back pairings have been a bit shaky, and he has provided some confidence in that area. Very self-assured could be more aggressive from attacking set-pieces but a great signing for them.”

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!