AFCON 2023: Andre Arendse Equates Current Bafana Bafana Spirit With That of 1996 Heroes

• Andre Arendse was in goal for Bafana Bafana's debut run in the 1996 Africa Cup of Nations
• The former Fulham goalkeeper is now a coach under Gavin Hunt at SuperSport United
• Arendse only conceded two goals at the 1996 AFCON, keeping four clean sheets

As Bafana Bafana ventures into the last eight at AFCON 2023, fans are looking for positive omens.

Many have noted the parallels in timing between the 1995-1996 Springboks-AFCON double as well as Ronwen Williams equalling the 1996 consecutive clean sheet streak.

However, signs from the universe don't win competitions and only a select few members of South Africa's football fraternity have experienced the magic of lifting the AFCON trophy.

Andre Arendse was the man tasked with keeping out Africa's finest strikers in 1996 and the man who kept those three consecutive clean sheets.

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Football

The Cape Town Spurs, Fulham and Santos legend had a professional career spanning 20 years and has seen his fair share of champions.

Now a coach at SuperSport United, he spoke to Sports Brief after their friendly with NB La Masia on February 1. Summarizing Bafana's progress so far, he said:

"There were a couple of doubts going into the tournament and there was a wobble in the first game, but the team has grown with the tournament. When you look at the stage of the tournament now, there is a chance."

When asked if he saw any comparisons between Hugo Broos' team of 2023 and the winning squad he was a part of, Arendse observed:

"I see an attitude that says, 'We will give you a game'. I see an attitude that says, 'We will compete', and if you have that kind of approach and that kind of attitude - you not always going to be guaranteed to win games - but that attitude is going to get you closer to winning games."

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The youthful-looking 56-year-old has warned against taking Cape Verde likely and is expecting a physical encounter with the islanders. He noted:

"I think it is one of their biggest obstacles. I know we said that against Morocco but you will see top class attitudes from that Cape Verde side. They are a big team and we are going to have to compete physically against them, and if we can do that, we are sorted. The strength of our game is in possession of the ball. We have proven that in the last two or three games and if we get that right again, I think we will be alright."

Bafana Bafana take on Cape Verde in the quarter-finals of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations on Saturday night after the hosts, Ivory Coast, fight for a semi-final spot against Mali.

Where are Bafana's 1996 heroes now?

Sports Brief recently compiled a list of the whereabouts of South Africa's AFCON 1996 winning team.

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Sadly, Sizwe Motaung, John 'Shoes' Moshoeu and Phil Masinga passed on due to various illnesses.

The remaining members are an assortment of coaches, television pundits and motivational speakers.