A horror debut from Soumahoro Bangaly‚ a new addition to the Mamelodi Sundowns defence‚ has handed forgotten man Wayne Arendse a lifeline at the club.
It was beginning to look like another Premier Soccer League season on the fringes for Arendse until the Ivorian’s nightmare first appearance in a 2-1 defeat to Golden Arrows last month. Bangaly‚ who was partially involved in the confusion that led to Arrows’ opening goal‚ was replaced by Arendse at halftime.
The 30-year-old was showered with praise by Sundowns coach Pitso Mosimane despite the loss — and the coach hasn’t dropped the lanky defender since.
“We brought on Wayne because we knew he could handle the pressure and the quick Arrows players‚ especially seeing that we were playing with 10-men‚” Mosimane said at the time‚ also admitting that fielding Bangaly just a few days after he’d arrived in the country was a mistake.
Arendse partnered Thabo Nthethe in the next three matches — a 3-2 win over Ajax Cape Town‚ the 2-0 thumping of Jomo Cosmos and Sundowns’ comfortable 2-0 victory over Chippa United in the opening round of the Telkom Knockout.
This week‚ the coach singled him out yet again following back-to-back clean sheets.
“I think Wayne is fighting for his place at centreback‚” Mosimane said of a player signed from Santos in July 2012 when the Cape Town side was relegated to the National First Division.
“He is the most underrated defender‚ but now he is claiming the position. And what is important for us is that‚ for a second game in a row‚ we have kept zero at the back.”
Such is Arendse’s contribution that Mosimane has had to shift captain Ramahlwe Mphahlele to rightback.
The skipper played alongside his predecessor Alje Schut‚ who returned to Holland‚ in central defence throughout the 2014-15 season‚ but was moved to accommodate Arendse.
“We have kept the same line-up [with the exception of Teko Modise‚ who missed the Chippa game because of an eye infection] in our previous three matches. You have to keep the faith with the winning team even though at times I feel we need a little bit more. But you need to reward the winning team‚” Mosimane explained.
Sundowns host Polokwane City in their next Premier League match on October 18.
Pitso: Arendse fighting for his place at centreback
A horror debut from Soumahoro Bangaly‚ a new addition to the Mamelodi Sundowns defence‚ has handed forgotten man Wayne Arendse a lifeline at the club.
It was beginning to look like another Premier Soccer League season on the fringes for Arendse until the Ivorian’s nightmare first appearance in a 2-1 defeat to Golden Arrows last month. Bangaly‚ who was partially involved in the confusion that led to Arrows’ opening goal‚ was replaced by Arendse at halftime.
The 30-year-old was showered with praise by Sundowns coach Pitso Mosimane despite the loss — and the coach hasn’t dropped the lanky defender since.
“We brought on Wayne because we knew he could handle the pressure and the quick Arrows players‚ especially seeing that we were playing with 10-men‚” Mosimane said at the time‚ also admitting that fielding Bangaly just a few days after he’d arrived in the country was a mistake.
Arendse partnered Thabo Nthethe in the next three matches — a 3-2 win over Ajax Cape Town‚ the 2-0 thumping of Jomo Cosmos and Sundowns’ comfortable 2-0 victory over Chippa United in the opening round of the Telkom Knockout.
This week‚ the coach singled him out yet again following back-to-back clean sheets.
“I think Wayne is fighting for his place at centreback‚” Mosimane said of a player signed from Santos in July 2012 when the Cape Town side was relegated to the National First Division.
“He is the most underrated defender‚ but now he is claiming the position. And what is important for us is that‚ for a second game in a row‚ we have kept zero at the back.”
Such is Arendse’s contribution that Mosimane has had to shift captain Ramahlwe Mphahlele to rightback.
The skipper played alongside his predecessor Alje Schut‚ who returned to Holland‚ in central defence throughout the 2014-15 season‚ but was moved to accommodate Arendse.
“We have kept the same line-up [with the exception of Teko Modise‚ who missed the Chippa game because of an eye infection] in our previous three matches. You have to keep the faith with the winning team even though at times I feel we need a little bit more. But you need to reward the winning team‚” Mosimane explained.
Sundowns host Polokwane City in their next Premier League match on October 18.
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