Time to shine – Booth
FEW players in South African football have as much experience of the game at junior international level than Matthew Booth.
The lanky defender is among a select group who have participated at prestigious tour naments such as the Under-20 World Cup as well as the Olympics where he pitted his talent against some players who have gone on to become international superstars.
It is for these reasons that the South African Under-19 side as well as a squad made up of a selection of players from the KwaZulu Natal Academy will do well to listen attentively when the man who has captained the country at both Under-20 and Under-23 levels offers them advice ahead of this year’s Durban Under-19 International Football Tournament.
Booth is an ambassador of the tour nament – which is going into its second edition – from July 29 to August 8 at four venues (Princess Magogo Stadium, Sugar Ray Xulu Stadium, King Zwelithini Stadium and Moses Mabhida Stadium) across Durban.
Back in 1997, Booth was captain of the first South African side to qualify for a World Cup when he led Shakes Mashaba’s United Warriors to the final of the Africa Youth Championship in Morocco. That feat earned them a place at the world championships in Malaysia where Booth had the unenviable task of keeping a young, yet already lethal Thierry Henry, at bay.
Also having crossed Booth’s path in those early years was one Steven Gerrard who went on to become a Liverpool legend.
At this year’s event, the South African youngsters will be up against future stars of renowned European outfits such as Arsenal, AC Milan, PSV Eindhoven, Galatasaray, Stuttgart as well as Glasgow Celtic.
Booth believes such competition can only stand South African football in good stead.
“It is fantastic to see such quality teams put together by Hoy Park Management, the KwaZulu Natal Provincial Government and the City of eThekwini, in collaboration with the South African Football Association, as this is such a vital age for these young players to learn,” Booth says. “This will be a great barometer for South African teams to gauge where we are at against a superb collection of international teams.
“I remember playing as a youngster in Toulon in France where we came up against players who would go on to become global greats and at the very top of the game. Guys like Henry and Gerrard were also just making their way in the game and it was great to see how they developed.”
His experiences opened his eyes to the global game and the different styles of teams.
That Booth went on not only to win championships locally with Mamelodi Sundowns but to a successful career in Europe as well as playing for Bafana Bafana with some aplomb is common knowledge.
The eight sides will be split into two groups each containing four teams, with the top two sides in each pool advancing to the semi-finals. Each pool will contain a South African team.