It might be too early to start making bold pronouncements, but the one man best qualified to do so says Senzo Meyiwa is going to stay Bafana Bafana No1 for a long while to come.
And the likes of Darren Keet and even previous incumbent Itumeleng Khune should brace themselves for a long wait on the sidelines.
“Senzo’s performances in the national team jersey have made a very loud and clear statement – he’s saying to the next goalie in line, ‘you will have to wait your chance because I am the one in goal now’.”
André Arendse does not make this bold statement as a television analyst but rather as someone who knows exactly what space the Orlando Pirates goalkeeper is in.
Just as Meyiwa waited what would have felt like eons to be Bafana’s No1, Arendse played second fiddle for a long time too.
In the early years of South Africa’s readmission to the international game, the Capetonian was a perpetual bench-warmer.
But once he took over from Steve Crowley, he never looked back and made the gloves his own as he chalked up numerous milestones that makes him the Bafana legend he is right now.
“Senzo would have gone through a lot of frustration sitting on that bench,” Arendse says, clearly basing his comment on experience.
“It would have been more a matter of mental challenge than anything else. He would have wondered if his chance would ever come. An element of ‘should I give up because it doesn’t seem worth it’ would have come in too.”
Having held on though, Meyiwa is now enjoying the benefits of his patience and perseverance.
“Senzo has proven that you must never give up, that perseverance in your quest to achieve your goals does pay off.
“One thing I vividly remember about finally getting to play is the appreciation of the opportunity and how you want to hold on to it because you’d waited for so long.
“You look back and get to appreciate all the hard work you put in and having been patient.
“And that is the mark of a top sportsman and, as you play you want to prove you really are a top player.”
Arendse has seen that mark in Meyiwa in the four Africa Cup of Nations qualifying matches.
“Inspirational,” he says of Meyiwa’s performances. “That’s the one word that immediately comes to mind about what he has done so far.
“He has done massively well to keep four clean sheets and us goalies will tell you that it is a huge feat to keep a clean sheet because if we don’t concede it means the team don’t lose.”
And having not lost, Bafana remain on course for a first appearance at the Afcon via a successful qualification process since 2008.
Having had a lot to do with that, Meyiwa will no doubt be keen to play at the biennial, continental showpiece. The likes of Keet and Khune better be willing to stay in line and wait.
“Unfortunately that’s just how it is for us goalkeepers. We are not like outfield players where replacements happen easily. With us once a guy is in it’s hard to take him out. And Senzo is looking set to stay in those goals for a long time.” - Saturday Star