The Sunday Mail
Langton Nyakwenda
RUFARO STADIUM in Harare is where Washington Arubi’s goalkeeping talent came to national attention some 13 years ago.
Washington Arubi
Then a 17-year-old Manunure High schoolboy, Arubi suddenly found himself debuting in a Premiership game at Rufaro against an on-song Black Rhinos when Lancashire Steel’s first choice ‘keeper Tafadzwa Dube was pulled out at the last minute.
Arubi put on a five-star show as Lancashire Steel beat Chipembere 3-1.
Today, he returns to the cradle. And even greater heroics are expected from him between the sticks for the Warriors against Guinea in a 2017 African Cup of Nations qualifier.
Coincidentally, his last major competitive match in national team colours was against Guinea in a World Cup qualifier that the Warriors lost 0-1 at the Stade du 28 Septembre Stadium in Conakry on June 16, 2013.
The Pretoria University goalkeeper, who turned 30 last weekend, says he returns with the same hunger for success he had a decade ago.
“I am a competitor and love winning,” says Arubi.
“Rufaro boosts my confidence; it was here, in this ground, that I made my top flight debut for Lancashire Steel as a schoolboy.
“Tafadzwa (Dube) was the first choice and was dependable but it so happened that this other weekend in October 2003 he was called up to the national team and there was a goalkeeping crisis at the club.
“My club could not trust a schoolboy like me to guard goal against a fired-up Black Rhinos, they even tried to have the fixture postponed. After everything failed, they tasked me to play and that is how my journey began.”
Being one of the most experienced players in the squad, Arubi knows the tough task awaiting the Warriors.
“I am happy to be back, I never gave up hope and I worked hard for this to happen. It is rare to get another opportunity like this especially in a country like Zimbabwe where brilliant keepers are churned out annually.
“Guinea are a very tough team, West Africans are always difficult to play against but we just have to beat them because we are at home. Everyone is here, all the players are 100 percent fit and raring to go.”
The former Dynamos man’s star continues to shine in the South African Absa Premiership where he has been a consistent performer.
Last week Arubi, who has been the first choice keeper at AmaTuks since 2012 and has missed only three of the club’s 101 league matches since joining, penned a three-year extension with Pretoria University. He holds the club’s record for the most PSL appearances. Even then, he misses the atmosphere at Rufaro.
“Most of the times we play in empty stadiums in South Africa, so it is good to once again play in front of thousands backing you. I have vivid memories of my time at DeMbare, the fans loved me here at Rufaro and I am always happy to play here.
“It is a familiar territory, it was here that the fans showered me with United States dollars after every match and I hope they give me some more after we beat Guinea,” Arubi laughs.
Arubi was instrumental as DeMbare clinched the first of their four consecutive league titles in 2011 under Kallisto Pasuwa and went on to be crowned Soccer Star of the Year — becoming only the third keeper to achieve such a feat after Japhet Muparutsa (1982) and Energy Murambadoro (2003).
Having been sidelined by the likes of George Chigova and recently Tatenda Mukuruva, Arubi is aware the Warriors number one jersey does not come easy.
“Chigova is a very good keeper, Mukuruva is upcoming, they both came after me at DeMbare but I must admit they have raised the bar.
“They represent the future, I have also seen Elvis (Chipezeze), he is good, so is Donovan Bernard, the future is bright,” says the former Highlanders, Bantu Rovers and Highfield United ‘keeper.
Arubi — a divorcee with two kids — has seen his off-field issues making headlines, but the Warriors goalie says he has settled matters with his ex-wife.
“These two boys are my life, they are the reason why I will play for as many years as I can.”
