When South Africa won the Africa Cup of Nations in 1996, fans would cry “Feeeeessh.” whenever central defender Mark Fish touched the ball.

Matthew Booth is the modern-day equivalent. The crowd may sound as if they are booing when the six foot six-and-a-half inch central defender touches the ball, but they most certainly are not.

The 33-year-old Booth has been far from an ever-present since he made his Bafana Bafana debut in 1999 and took part in their first Olympic tournament in Sydney in 2000. Indeed, injury cost him his place in the country’s 2002 World Cup squad. In his 11 years in the side he only has 27 caps.

 

Booth, who plays for South African Premier Soccer League runners-up Mamelodi Sundowns, is the only white player in the current South African squad and has become a symbol of the “rainbow nation” due to his marriage to black supermodel Sonia Bonneventia.

The couple have been likened to celebrity couples such as David and Victoria Beckham. And Booth has become something of a poster boy, with his face adorning numerous World Cup billboards throughout the country.

He is, though, a pivotal figure to the team at the heart of its defence.