tawandamusarurwa
Langton Nyakwenda
LEGENDARY goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon might have won so many accolades, including the World Cup, in a professional career spanning 28 years, but the Italian has missed one crucial medal.
He is one of the football superstars who have failed to win the prestigious UEFA Champions League.
In an article written in March 2022, GiveMeSport, a sport media outlet, listed what it termed “an incredible XI” of players who have never won the Champions League.
They include Brazilian great Ronaldo, Lillian Thuram and Laurent Blanc (France), Lothar Mathius and Michael Ballack (Germany), Pavel Nedved (Czech Republic), Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Sweden), Fabio Cannavaro, Gianluca Zambrotta, Francesco Totti and Buffon (Italy).
Despite the setback, Buffon remains a global football icon.
He is one of the few players to have amassed over 1 100 appearances in his career.
He won the World Cup with Italy in 2006, the Europa League in 1999 and several league titles with Juventus and Paris Saint-Germain.
Buffon is now 45 and is still playing professional football with Parma in Italy’s Serie B.
Coincidentally, it was at Parma where his professional career started in 1995.
His career has inspired thousands of goalkeepers across the world, including Zimbabwe’s Washington Arubi, who is basking in glory after achieving another milestone by captaining modest South African side Marumo Gallants to their first-ever semi-final in a continental competition.
Marumo Gallants beat Egyptian side Pyramids 2-1 on aggregate last weekend to book a place in the last four of the CAF Confederation Cup.
Just like Buffon, Arubi has his own special records in a 20-year career that began at Lancashire Steel in October 2003.
He became only the third goalkeeper to win the Castle Lager Soccer Star of the Year in 2011, when he made a mark at Dynamos, before crossing the Limpopo into South Africa.
Japhet “Short Cat” Mparutsa (Dynamos 1982) and Energy “Gokwe” Murambadoro (CAPS United 2003) are the other goalminders with the outstanding distinction of claiming the award.
Arubi turns 38 in August but he is feeling recharged.
“It feels great to have captained the team to its first semi-final of the CAF Confederation Cup,” he told The Sunday Mail Sport.
“This is a first for me and a first for the club, and no one gave us a chance considering our position in the league.”
Marumo Gallants are having a season of contrasting fortunes on the domestic and international fronts.
They are fighting relegation in the DStv Premiership and, at the same time, chasing glory in the African safari.
“Through hard work and experience of being in the game, I have managed to push my teammates and make them believe that, with hard work, nothing is impossible in football.
“Here we are, where no one expected us to be, given that the team is still a relevantly new side.”
Like fine wine, Arubi is getting better with age. The last two years have also been productive for him.
He featured for Zimbabwe at the 2021 COSAFA Cup tournament in South Africa, before winning the Nedbank Cup with Marumo Gallants, for which he was named the Nedbank Player of the Tournament.
“I would also like to attribute my success to the Almighty, who is always giving me strength each and every day to keep me doing what I love.
“To me, football is like a calling. The ability to look after my body and also manage my time has allowed me to go this far.”
Buffon, who is still playing at the ripe age of 45, and Ibrahimovic, who is still competitive in Serie A at 41, inspire Arubi, who is not thinking of hanging up his gloves “anytime soon”.
Warriors dance
Given a chance, he would want a last dance with Zimbabwe’s Warriors.
But that might have to wait a little bit longer, as Zimbabwe is presently suspended from international football by FIFA.
“Goalkeepers can play for long.
“I am still in it and with God’s grace, I feel I still have a couple of seasons in this game.
“But obviously, there will come a time when I will also become a teacher to some students, but for now, I feel I am still in it.
“My mind and body still feel fresh to compete.” Arubi played in the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers under Kalisto Pasuwa but failed to make the team for the finals.
He, therefore, feels he has not given “as much as he would want” to the nation.
Croat Zdravko Logarusic then drafted him into his Warriors side for the 2021 COSAFA Cup.
It was to become Arubi’s last assignment with the national team.
“I feel honoured to have once been the chosen one amongst Zimbabwe’s finest.
“That gave me the will to say I can make it and here I am today,” said Arubi.
“But at the back of my mind, I have always wanted to spice up my career with a major tournament for my national team, but, unfortunately, with us not being able to compete in any international tournaments at the moment, it becomes difficult.
“It gives me sleepless nights, because I would have really wanted to help my country even qualify to a World Cup tournament, which is every player’s dream.
“But I am content with the part I have played and grateful to the coaches who saw something in me and gave me the opportunity to showcase my talent.”
Arubi was expected to make his 25th appearance of the season yesterday.
He has over 200 league appearances in South Africa since 2012, when he left DeMbare.
Back home, he also played for Highlanders and the now-defunct Lancashire Steel.
Across the Limpopo, he has featured for University of Pretoria, Stellenbosch, SuperSport United and now Marumo Gallants.
“The last two years of my career have been great — getting a call-up again to represent my country (at the 2021 COSAFA Cup) and winning the Nedbank Cup Player of the Tournament, and the tournament itself. That was awesome. And now reaching the semi-final of an African club tournament. This has made me realise that with God, hard work, discipline, focus and determination, nothing is impossible.
“Not forgetting those who have supported me during the journey — my family, the clubs, as well as my good friend and brother Leeroy Waguta, who has been by my side, pushing me,” Arubi said.
■ Twitter: @LangtonGuraz
Online Reporter