Matthew Booth Reveals His Preferred Bafana Bafana Defensive Pairing Against Kenya

Former Bafana Bafana defender Matthew Booth has revealed the defensive partnership he would prefer head coach Hugo Broos to use against Kenya, suggesting that Mbekezeli Mbokazi could be given additional time to recover from his long journey before featuring in the return fixture.

Booth believes South Africa should maintain continuity in central defence for the home encounter by retaining Ime Okon and Makhanya, rather than immediately introducing Mbokazi into the starting lineup.

Explaining his preferred selection, the former international highlighted the importance of allowing players to recover properly, particularly when travelling long distances for international assignments.

“So, to answer your question, I would most likely stick with Okon and Makhanya at home against Kenya, and then perhaps, to allow Mbokazi time to get over his jet lag, try to rest, recover from jet lag, and perhaps play him with Okon or Makhanya for the away leg.” Booth told Soccer Laduma.

His suggestion indicates that managing the players’ physical condition could be just as important as selecting the strongest available defensive combination.

Mbokazi has attracted considerable attention through his performances, with his development making him an important option for the national team. However, Booth believes that rushing him into the starting lineup without sufficient recovery time may not be necessary.

Okon and Makhanya, meanwhile, could provide defensive stability during the home fixture if Broos decides to follow Booth’s recommendation.

The final decision will rest with the Bafana Bafana coach, who must consider the players’ fitness, tactical suitability and experience before selecting his defensive partnership for both encounters.

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