Hugo Broos' football knowledge is usually well above plenty of those that have always been taking turns to throw stones at him through his tenure as Bafana Bafana head coach.
So, when he makes a call in the selection of his team, it is never based on popularity but rather relevance to the situation at hand.
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At Orlando Stadium, Broos made the call to start with Rushwin Dortley as Siyabonga Ngezana's partner in the centre of defence.
Ngezana deserved his place for all the steps he has made up the ladder with Romanian champions FCSB with whom he will be playing in the Europa League group stages this season.
To Ngezana's left was Dortley who was assigned with taking care of providing balance and moving the ball swiftly in build-up play.
That the 22-year-old was playing his first game under Broos didn't show a bit.
He ticked all the right boxes – strength, tactical awareness, comfort on the ball, effective marking, anticipation, command, and communication.
The plus is that he stands at 6 ft in height making him an extra weapon on set-pieces on when defending aerial balls like what he will have to do come Tuesday against South Sudan.
Prior to that, Dortley had earned his previous Bafana caps playing in the COSAFA squad which is not coached by the Belgian.
At the regional tournament played in Gqeberha in June, he featured in all three group matches playing at left centre-back as captain and even scored.
Dortley's performance in Bafana colours could justifiably become the natural option at left centre-back going forward while he also gets his club career going at Kaizer Chiefs where he is also expected to be a regular.
Wherever Nasreddine Nabi was watching the game from on Friday, he will know that his option for left centre-back is sorted.
Considering what Dortley showed in the AFCON qualifiers, is that there is good reason that he could turn into the best buy of this window for Amakhosi who acquired him from Cape Town Spurs.
Dortley is the youngest of all the signings that Chiefs have made in this window.
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He has only played a single season in topflight football which was last when he took care of business at the back in 28 games for Spurs.
The Capetonian can also play at left-back but with his frame is best suited to the centre.
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