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Ex-captain says quarter finals is realistic target

Matthew Booth
Matthew Booth

As the national under-20s prepare to leave for the Fifa U20 World Cup tomorrow, former Amajita captain Matthew Booth has challenged the current generation to go further than the classes of 1997 and 2009.

Booth was part of the first Amajita side to play at the showpiece in 1997 in Malaysia, where they got knocked out in the group stages after finishing third in a tough group consisting of Brazil, France and this year's hosts South Korea.

Twelve years later, Serame Letsoaka's boys managed to reach the last 16 in Egypt, where they were knocked out by eventual champions Ghana.

"As a country we are not asking for perfection," said Booth.

"We are just asking for progress and I think it's important we set targets for ourselves before we get there [to the World Cup].

"I believe knockout stages plus one [quarterfinals] is a realistic target. Once you get into the knockout stages, anything is possible.

"I would love to see them surprising teams."

Amajita play their opening match against Japan on May 21. Booth knows what it's like to play against Japan in an opening group game at a tournament, having done so at the 2000 Sydney Olympics with the national under-23 team.

The South Africans lost 2-1, despite taking the lead through Siyabonga Nomvethe.

"Funny enough we had a similar scenario in the Olympics. Our first game was against Japan.

"They lack in individual flair, but as a team they are unbelievable. They are hard workers.

"If we can be defensively sound and use our individual flair to break them upfront, then we could come away with a good start," Booth said.

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