When a ‘star’ is born …
Arendse, a new dad, now eyes continental glory
WAYNE Arendse is used to waiting, whether it’s finally to break into Mamelodi Sundowns’ starting XI or becoming a father. What has made that wait bearable for the 31-year-old defender is knowing how sweet the results are once they bear fruit.
A nine-month wait ended last week for Arendse when his second child, Ethan, was born while he was thousands of kilometres away from his home in Cape Town.
“I got a call while I was with the team in Pietermaritzburg that my wife was giving birth,” Arendse said. “I had to rush to her side (on Thursday). I was thinking about her and the team on my way there.”
Arendse didn’t spend much time with his son because he had to fly to Ndola in Zambia on Friday. He arrived there just before 7pm.
The following day he was in the starting XI when the Brazilians took on Zesco United in the first leg of their CAF Champions League semi-final tie at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium.
There wasn’t much time to celebrate because Zesco put the Sundowns’ defence under pressure in the Zambian side’s 2-1 win. “It was a bit hard leaving him behind because I still wanted to spend some time with him,” Arendse said.
“But I knew there was a job to be done. The club needed me and this is my job. It was tough but I had to do it. It would be nice to top it off by winning the Champions League, so that I can tell my boy one day that I rushed to witness his birth and then flew off to Ndola to help my team qualify for the final.
“If we win this cup, he will always be at the back of my mind when I look at the gold medal because it will remind me of him. It will be a nice story to tell him one day.”
Arendse already has a nice story to tell. He waited a long time for his chance at Sundowns after joining the club from Santos four years ago.
Last season he finally got his big break when former captain Ramahlwe Mphahlele was injured.
Arendse made the most of that chance, to the point that Mphahlele had to be moved to right-back when he regained fitness because Arendse was rock-solid in central defence.
He could take pride of his league medal because he con- tributed, unlike the one he won three seasons ago. Just like Arendse has waited for a long time to be a Sundowns’ regular, the Brazilians’ fans have waited even longer to see their team in the final of the Champions League. Sundowns were last there in 2001 when they lost to Egyptian giants Al-Ahly.
“There has been a lot of waiting,” Arendse said with a chuckle.
The Brazilians’ wait to reach the final could end today when they host Zesco at Lucas Moripe Stadium at 7pm.
Arendse will need to be alert to stop a rampant attack – their opponents’ speed in the first leg tormented Thabo Nthethe and himself.
Zesco have been in the country since Thursday, preparing for this clash.
Arendse has been preparing for this game all his life, finally being in the spotlight after spending most of it in the shadows.
“To help the team reach the final would be huge,” Arendse said.
“To help the team have a star on its badge (by winning the Champions League) and knowing that you contributed in bringing it to Sundowns would be the greatest feeling.”