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Cape Town - Former Bafana Bafana defender Thabo Nthethe has rated Maritzburg United centre-back Rushine de Reuck as the best defender in the Absa Premiership.
When the time comes around for the Defender of the Season nominations to be announced, De Reuck's name is likely to be right in the mix along with Mamelodi Sundowns stopper Motjeka Madisha and Kaizer Chiefs' Erick Mathoho.
It is no coincidence that Sundowns (15), Chiefs (16) and Maritzburg (17) have conceded the fewest goals in the league this season along with Bidvest Wits (15).
Nthethe knows a thing or two about defending having been the premier centre-back in the country at one time. And the 35-year-old, who is set to join Nedbank Cup champions TS Galaxy in the coming days, believes that it would be a two-horse race between Madisha and De Reuck for the best defender gong, but that De Reuck would edge it.
"For me Madisha and the boy from Maritzburg ... De Reuck have been exceptional this season. But If I were to choose one, I'd go for De Reuck," said Nthethe, who made 79 appearances for Sundowns before leaving in 2018 and has won 22 Bafana caps.
"That boy (De Reuck) knows football. He is very calm yet vocal in organising things at the back. He always wins one-against-one battles."
Nthethe confirmed he is hoping to put pen to paper with Galaxy before the end of the week and admits he would never have imagined being coached by his contemporary Mabhuti Khenyeza, who has recently taken over the reins at the GladAfrica Championship outfit.
"I'm still very much active. I have been training with Galaxy and it's promising that I'll sign, maybe before this week ends," said the former Bafana Bafana defender.
"Life is a magic, I never thought I'd be coached by Mabhuti...I used to give him tough times as a defender when he was a striker, now I'm taking instructions from him."
