FORMER Zimbabwe national team goalkeeper Washington Arubi walked away with the Nedbank Cup Player of the Tournament award at the South Africa Premier Soccer League 2020/21 Award Ceremony held on Sunday.
In the second consecutive virtual awards ceremony due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Arubi pipped fellow teammate Ndabayithethwa Ndlondlo and Sundowns’ marksman Peter Shalulile to win the top prize of the Cup tournament.
Arubi helped his team Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila (TTM) win the 2021 edition of the Nedbank and, in the process winning their first major trophy since the Limpopo based side bought the Bidvest Wits franchise.
On the road to the final, TTM saw off SuperSport United first before Arubi was the hero in their match against Swallows saving penalty that sent TTM to the next round after the two terms had failed to be separated during regulation time.
The Zimbabwe 2011 Soccer Star of Year was the hero again in the semi-final against Sundowns saving penalties in another penalty shootout to win 6-5, sending TTM into the Nedbank Cup final.
TTM beat Chippa United by a solitary goal in their first-ever cup final, Arubi marshalling his goal area well and keeping a clean sheet as he made crucial saves.
Arubi follows in the footsteps of fellow countryman, Nyasha Mushekwi who won the Nedbank Cup Player of the tournament in 2012 when he was still turning out for Mamelodi Sundowns.
The 35-year-old former Dynamos shot-stopper last played for Zimbabwe during a 2017 Africa Cup of Nations Qualifier against Guinea in September 2015 and still entertains the hopes of playing for the Warriors. He can only hope that his performance in the Nedbank Cup will earn him a recall into the Warriors fold.
