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Cape Town - Former Ajax Cape Town defender Matthew
Booth feels that if anyone can hatch a plan to beat Kaizer Chiefs, its
Urban Warriors coach Muhsin Ertugral.
Ajax host Amakhosi in their final league match of the season (on May 12) and must record victory in order to escape the relegation zone.
Five years ago, Booth was part of an Ajax side under Ertugral who needed to beat Chiefs towards the end of the season to stay clear of the drop zone and on that occasion they triumphed 3-1.
"You couldn't ask for a better person to be in charge for a game against Chiefs," Booth, these days a TV analyst, told Ajax's website.
"Knowing his history at Chiefs (where Ertugral worked previously), Muhsin got his tactics spot-on on the day – identifying the threat posed by fullbacks Tsepo Masilela and Siboniso Gaxa in closing the channels.
"Also, [Lebogang] Manyama was absolutely on fire that day and enjoyed an excellent game.
"I don't know if it is true or not, but Muhsin told us that Chiefs had brought their championship winning t-shirts to Cape Town and that if we lost they would celebrate in front of us at our home. That gave us added motivation to beat them."
The former Bafana defender says it's up to the wiser and older heads to carry the Cape side over the line.
"On the day, the experienced players will need to stand up – you need strong leadership, especially when things go wrong and you are on the back foot, it is important that the team reacts positively. It is difficult to reset your mind and carry on following a setback.
"If things don't go as planned Muhsin will rely on guys like Mosa Lebusa (the captain has scored two goals in his last two matches) and Mario Booysen to encourage the team and refocus. Hopefully it will not come to that, though, and Ajax Cape Town will have a good game from start to finish."
Kick-off is at 15:00.
