Booi relishing leadership role
Madibas skipper Lusu Booi is relishing the responsibility of leading his NMMU side in this year's FNB Varsity Cup presented by Steinhoff International.
Scrumhalf Booi is in his third year of Varsity Cup action, having represented UJ in 2008 before moving back to his native Port Elizabeth to represent NMMU in last year's edition of everyone's favourite student rugby competition.
Of course, this year the 24-year-old former Newton Tech pupil will be captaining the Madibas - an opportunity that he is well and truly relishing.
"It [captaincy] puts pressure on me to up my game - I'm relishing the challenge and the responsibility that comes with it," Booi told varsitycup.co.za.
It is obvious that Booi is a natural leader and he not only enjoys the decision-making role that comes with captaincy, but also the added pressure which comes with his team's scrumhalf duties. After playing Craven Week rugby on the flank, and having spent much of his career as a utility back, Booi has no doubt that he belongs in the No.9 jersey.
"I love being in the heart of the action," he said, "I basically start every move and am the link between forwards and backs."
As a player that thrives on pressure, the BA student's constant need to be challenged shines through: "Scrumhalf is a very challenging position and I enjoy that.
"I think I read the game quite well and I enjoy the pressure and decision-making that comes with it."
The former Golden Lions Amateur player admits that his young side are in the building stages of their development as a squad, but he is confident that the Madibas will be causing a few problems for their opponents in 2010.
"There are a lot of young guys in the squad," he said. "But I'm excited about what [talent] is coming through. The guys are also excited and up for the challenge of playing in the Varsity Cup."
For a man that loves a challenge, Booi could not have asked for a bigger one this Monday - when the Madibas kick-off their 2010 Varsity Cup campaign against double defending champions, the Maties.
Home-ground advantage at what promises to be a wet and windy NMMU ground will not stop Maties from being overwhelming favourites for the fixture, but Booi insists that his young and inexperienced side have got nothing to lose against the powerhouse Stellenbosch outfit.
"The pressure is on the Maties because they are the champions," said a defiant Booi. "We just need to stick to our gameplan - there is no pressure on us."
By Tim Human