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Eddie Chikamhi
Senior Sports Reporter
AFTER a season of contrasting fortunes at home and on the continent, former Zimbabwe international Washington Arubi experienced probably the worst phase in his career at the weekend when his South African team Marumo Gallants were relegated from the DStv Premiership, just a few days after their CAF Confederation Cup fairy-tale had also ended in anti-climax.
Marumo Gallants were officially relegated from the South African Premier Soccer League two years after they had bought the franchise of Arubi’s previous club Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila.
The 0-2 defeat to Swallows on Saturday sealed their fate on the last day of the campaign.
Despite the sad ending on the domestic front, Gallants had a magical outing in Africa, reaching the CAF Confederations Cup semi-final on their first attempt in the competition.
They however, crashed out at the hands of experienced campaigners, Young Africans of Tanzania, who thrashed them 4-1 on aggregate. In the midst of the mixed fortunes, Zimbabwe’s veteran goalkeeper Arubi stood out with some impressive performances during the incredible run in the Confederation Cup competition.
The 37-year-old goalkeeper was recognised at the club’s end-of-year awards gala held on Sunday, just a day after they had met their fate.
Arubi shared the Chairman’s Award with coach Raymond Mdaka in appreciation of his service to the club, which he also led as captain and the most experienced player.
Celimpilo Ngema was voted Player of the Season, while prolific striker Ranga Chivaviro, who finished with six CAF Confederation Cup goals was the club’s Top Scorer and Fan Favourite Player.
But for now, Gallants will need to go back to the drawing board and re-strategise a way back to the DStv Premiership.
But for Arubi, who turns 38 in August, it is not clear what his plans are with the team.
The goalkeeper has played both topflight and second-tier football in South Africa for the past 10 years, since arriving at University of Pretoria in 2012 from Harare giants Dynamos.
He made 112 appearances for University of Pretoria United, spread across five seasons and then went on to play for Stellenbosch in the First National Division in 2017.
He was back in the fop flight league in 2018 after signing for SuperSport United.
He had a disappointing stint at the Tshwane side and left without playing a game, two years later.
Arubi resuscitated his career at Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila were he produced some of his best performances and led the team to their maiden Nedbank Cup title. He was also named the 2029-21 Nedbank Cup Player of the tournament.
They survived relegation in their first season. But this time around it was not to be. Gallants just needed to play to a draw against Swallows FC at the Dobsonville Stadium in order to avoid relegation, but instead they lost 2-0 to the Dube Birds.
The defeat meant that they finished last in the PSL and they were automatically relegated to the National First Division.
It was especially agonising that three days earlier, they had also crashed out of the CAF Confederation Cup. Marumo Gallants had a magical run in their maiden campaign in Africa after reaching the semi-finals of the prestigious football competition.
Gallants had booked a place in the group stages of the CAF Confederations Cup for the first time ever, after beating Libyan giants Ahli Tripoli 3-1 on aggregate.
Arubi played a very important role in that campaign, keeping goals with distinction in 13 of the 14 games that the team played culminating in the 4-1 defeat to Yanga in the semi-finals of the Confederation Cup.
They received US$750 000 for reaching the last four of the Confederation Cup.
But Gallants coach Mdaka said relegation was a disaster they had never imagined.
“We are very much disappointed because we never expected that. We never thought we could lose, especially in this game. But it happens in football,” said Mdaka.
Online Reporter