Online Reporter
Marumo Gallants FC goalkeeper Washington Arubi has revealed what he told his teammates before his penalty shoot-out heroics against Mamelodi Sundowns on Saturday.
Arubi’s international experience played a key role in helping Gallants eliminate Sundowns in this season’s Carling Knockout last 16 on Saturday.The match ended in a 0-0 draw after 120 minutes and was decided by penalties, where Arubi made three saves.
“We’ve been practicing penalties, so I told my teammates, ‘Guys, if we go to penalties against Sundowns, please don’t tell me to dive in this direction or that direction, and which Sundowns player kicks in which direction. Let me go with my instinct,’” Arubi explained to KickOff.
“It was a great game against Sundowns because we executed our preparations effectively. We managed our strategy of using the ball and showing enough patience; you have to be patient when playing a team like Sundowns away. We focused on our strategy.
“Personally, I’m happy, it was the first clean sheet of the season, and I was happy about that. I’m trying to follow the coach’s instructions in every game. Off the field, I have been giving myself extra training sessions.
“The more you challenge yourself in training, the better you become.” Gallants will face Stellenbosch in the quarter-finals of the Carling Knockout. —Kick Off.
Mathew Masinge