The ManicaPost
Ray Bande Senior Reporter
FORMER Dynamos prolific goal poacher, Evans Gwekwerere recently opened up on how his stay in the ABSA Premiership in South Africa was not made any easier by turning out for a club coached by his compatriot, Ian ‘Dibango’ Gorowa.
Mutare-born former Warriors goalkeeper, Washington Arubi could be singing from the same hymn book.
Arubi’s survival at SuperSport United hangs by a thread given the lack of game time he has endured during the two seasons he has been part of the club. In fact, word has it that he has since been notified of the club’s reluctance to extend his contract beyond the end of this season. That an equally ageing George Chigova is being widely tipped to replace Arubi further lends credence to the perspective that there is more to the later’s exclusion than just football matters. The soft-spoken former Warriors shot stopper is yet to feature among the SuperSport United’s first 11 since his surprise move to the club at the start of last season.
Despite having Dynamos legend, Kaitano Tembo as head coach at SuperSport United, Arubi has only featured on the team card as a substitute goalkeeper on 12 occasions.
However, Arubi was not comfortable to delve into the issues.
“For now I cannot say much because I am only waiting to complete the season and then see what is next. I am not comfortable to talk about my future’s permutations as I am concentrating on finishing the season,” Arubi told Post Sport early this week.
On other hand, his coach Tembo was not reachable for comment by the time of going to print.
However, with a bit of hindsight, Arubi’s story is more of less similar to that of Gwekwerere. Gwekwerere recently spoke about his bad relationship with Gorowa during his stint at South African outfit, Maroka Swallows. The gap-toothed former bustling striker told the media two weeks ago that prior to Gorowa’s arrival at Maroka Swallows, he had a good time at the club when Gavin Hunt was the coach.
Hunt even nicknamed him ‘Wonder Boy’ as he could easily change the complexion of the game any time.
“The situation changed in 2008 when Hunt left The Birds and Ian Gorowa came in. I actually revered him as a brother or father who could guide me as a fellow countryman. I received the shock of my life when Gorowa told me that I was not in his plans because he had brought in five new players.
“I must say Gorowa never liked me. I even went to the extent of pleading with him to accept me but still he refused. I was encouraged by Edzai Kasinauyo (late) to soldier on.
“Club chief executive officer, Leone Prince and the then captain of the club, Goodman Mazibuko, had to intervene and pressurise Gorowa to accept me,” Gwekwerere was quoted saying.
While Gwekwerere might have been able to open up as the case now belongs to the past, the Sakubva-born Arubi might have to sweat it out until the time is right for him to tell the real story about his stay at SuperSport United.
Only time will tell.
