Arubi signing at SuperSport to challenge Goss

The Zimbabwe international was the preferred choice at Marumo Gallants but left after they were relegated to rejoin Matsatsantsa. 

Arendse, the keeper during Bafana Bafana’s 1996 AFCON triumph, elaborated further during an interview with SABC Sport. 

"What we wanted to do is bring at least two top-quality goalkeepers to the club. And that was a missing component for us, and that's not a disrespect to any other goalkeepers who've been in our books,” he said. 

“We feel even though Washington is at the age that he is, is a top professional. We've worked with him before, he wanted to move on at a stage where Ronwen [Williams, now with Mamelodi Sundowns] was playing most of the games, and he wanted to play. We said 'Fantastic, no problem'. [But now] we felt it was time to bring him back and mount a serious challenge on Ricardo Goss,” continued Arendse

Goss joined SuperSport on a two-year loan deal from rivals Mamelodi Sundowns last season, with George Chigova and Boalefa Pule as second and third choices, respectively, when he arrived.  Arendse says Goss was complacent at times.  

"We felt that one of Ricardo's downfalls is when he is not seriously challenged, he slips into a little comfort zone, and that's what we wanted to avoid. it's like any player out there who's number one, you need to keep challenging people to go to better levels. And this is where we are our goalkeeping department, especially with the two of them."

Arubi got the nod ahead of Goss in the MTN8 quarterfinals last month, but Stellenbosch FC eliminated SuperSport. It will be interesting to see what opinion Arendse, alongside goalkeeper coach Grant Johnson, give head coach Gavin Hunt in trying to appease both Arubi and Goss.