It is a South African thing
On the knockout stages of the 2021 Afcon
It’s an old cliché in football where teams go through the group stage and they kill everybody and we say that this is the team that is going to win the tournament, but then you find the team that lost one game, drew another and won just one game… I mean, take Tunisia in this case. They lost two games, but these are the teams that come through stronger and it’s almost like they have a shift in mentality, where they say, “Guys, we can’t go on like this. We need to change the mentality or something.” But that is football – no matter who you are up against, when it comes to that 90 minutes, it is 11 vs 11 and irrespective of who is unbeaten and who lost two games. At the end of the day, it comes down to who wants it more. I was particularly impressed with Tunisia, who defended well, like they always do, and took the one opportunity that they got and, after that, it looked like they took the 1-0 and walked because the way they defended was top. I think there will still be more upsets because this is football and it’s not so predictable where we can say which team is gonna win. I like the unpredictability of the games, especially now in the knockout stages where if you lose, you are out, no matter who you are up against. It’s there for everybody to take. You know you are always gonna bet on your big names like Egypt and Senegal… I think between these two countries, one of them can win it. Especially the Egyptians, if they can get their act together, they can go all the way because they didn’t start off too well, but they are in it now.
On the transfer window so far
Obviously, I still have an eye on (Mamelodi) Sundowns and looking what they are up to because they are still family. So, the fact that they are closing in on the Bolivian midfielder (Erwin Saavedra), (it means) their intentions are clear – they want to go out and win the (CAF) Champions League! I mean, if you ask anyone who is dominating the PSL, they’ll tell you straight (that it is) Mamelodi Sundowns. If they wanted to just win the local league, they weren’t going to sign anybody. So, their intentions are clear, they want to win the Champions League that is why they are going for international players. (Surprise) Ralani is very good on the ball, he can make things happen. I don’t know much about the Bolivian, but obviously they have done their research. So, what they are doing there definitely caught my attention because, to me, the league is wrapped up.
On Downs’ chances of winning the Champions League
When you play in the Champions League, you have to make sure you score at home. When we won the Champions League in 2016, we made sure we score and keep a clean sheet at the back. I don’t know if you remember when we played the final, the game wasn’t done, but the way we were celebrating when we were winning 3-0 because we backed ourselves. So, they need to score when they are at home and obviously when they play away, they will get half chances. Considering the group that they are in, that explains why they went for all the signings that they got. It’s gonna be tough for Sundowns because when the league restarts now, you are going to have PSL games, you are going to have Champions League and there’s still the Nedbank Cup, and you only have four months to fight for all of this. It will be tough, but they have the squad and the players that have been there, the likes of Kennedy (Mweene), Denis (Onyango). Those guys have been there and they are rubbing off on the new guys, for whom it will be a big experience because traveling and coming back, where you rest for only one day and then play the next day before flying out, that was the life when we won the Champions League. So, they have to roll up their sleeves and be up for the fight.
On players over 30 struggling to find clubs
Thiago Silva scored the weekend… he plays every weekend for Chelsea. It is the sad part of South African football where once you reach that age, they all write you off, but you need the more experienced guys on the field as well as in the change room because they need to see if they need advice. Not all the players can speak to the coach. Some of the players hide and it’s always good to have senior players around to talk to and I was like that. I spoke to Edries Burton, Jean-Sebastien Bax, Musa Otieno and asked them what I should do in certain situations, and they used to guide me because they also won the league before, and they had been there and they knew. But I don’t think the clubs are into investing in that. Yes, it’s good to bring the youngsters in, but you need to bring them in gradually. It is also important to have these experienced guys around, where it’s almost like they are assisting the coach because they know what the coach wants and they obviously instill principles like if you want to win trophies, this is the lifestyle you need to live, leave the other funny things that you are doing. Sometimes it’s the small things like talking into a youngster’s ear. He probably won’t take it from the coach, but he will take it from a (Hlompho) Kekana, he will take it from a (Siphiwe) Tshabalala, thinking that this guy played at a World Cup, he knows what he is talking about. If I don’t know what to do, I can ask him about something that I am struggling with. So, those are the things that the experienced guys can bring to the team and we invest in the youngsters and when they perform, the club performs and everyone wins. But it is a South African thing. It’s a trend and I just think it’s a bad one, but hopefully the message gets out there and we will see players still being at the clubs in future to help where they can help.
On talk around possible retirement
I’m still looking to play, still looking out there for a team, so if anybody is interested… For me, it’s about enjoying and giving back to the youngsters and trying to help where I can and it’s not an issue of me wanting lots of money. For me, it’s not about money, it’s just for me to enjoy. If someone approaches me, nine out of 10, I will say, “Let’s do this” and just get back on the field and play and help where I can help and give back all the knowledge that I have gained from a top coach like Pitso Mosimane because I wasn’t just a player – you play but you are also learning. I’m still in the market, keeping fit and hoping that someone considers me. I am ready to go!
Wayne Arendse, Former Mamelodi Sundowns defender