ARUBI GOING STRONG IN CAF TOURNAMENTS

WASHINGTON Arubi has chosen the continental stage to prove why he is still rated among the best goalkeepers in the South African top-flight league.

At a time his club have been struggling for consistency in the league title chase, Arubi demonstrated why he has played for the Warriors on 13 occasions, since 2006, by helping his club to progress beyond the play-off round of the CAF Confederations Cup.

The 37-year-old Marumo Gallants goalie kept his second clean sheet in the continental competition to help his side to a 3 – 0 second leg win over Libyan side Al Ahli Tripoli at Royal Bafokeng Sports Stadium on Wednesday.

That comprehensive win overturned the 0 – 1 defeat suffered at the hands of the Libyans in the first leg and propelled Arubi and company into the last 16 stage of the tournament.

It was another stellar performance between the posts by the former SuperSport United and Pretoria University goalkeeper, who had also been the star of the show in the second round of the inter-club football showcase.

A top drawer performance against Madagascan outfit Elgeco Plus on October 15 helped Marumo Gallants to a 1 – 0 win in the second leg of that round, as Arubi recorded his first clean sheet of the tournament.

In all the four CAF Confederations Cup matches the club has featured in so far, Arubi has conceded just two goals - a good return by any measure at international level.

While his club hopes Arubi will maintain the same form, during the group stages of the competition, they will also be banking on the goalkeeper’s experience to help them improve their league campaign on the domestic front.

After12 league matches, Marumo Gallants are 11th on the log with 13 points.

They are hovering dangerously above the relegation zone as the race to win the South

African Premiership title nears the halfway mark.

Their next league match, on December 30, could see Arubi facing his former paymasters SuperSport United.