Bafana Bafana legend Andre Arendse defends struggling Veli Mothwa: 'We've got to protect him'

Former Bafana Bafana No 1 Andre Arendse defended Veli Mothwa after the goalkeeper's mistakes cost his country and club in a matter of two weeks. 

Mothwa stood in for the injured Ronwen Williams in Bafana's 2-2 draw with Uganda at Orlando Stadium in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon).

But the AmaZulu goalkeeper's moment in the sun ended in darkness as he committed two mistakes that led to the goals by the Cranes. 

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The almost two-metre-tall goalkeeper was caught out of position in the first goal, which was a rocket from Denis Omedi.

The second was a moment he would like to forget.

He fluffed a speculative shot from Rogers Mato, with his soft hands not only letting the ball slip between his fingers, but potentially also his international career now that Williams is back while Ricardo Goss and Sipho Chaine are fighting to be the No 2. 

Eight days after his howler in the Bafana jersey, Mothwa also made a crucial mistake with Usuthu.

The 33-year-old failed to hang onto a harmless aerial ball, with his error landing the ball onto the path of Polokwane City's Thabang Matuludi, who scored in referees' optional time. 

Veli Mothwa with a huge mistake ??

His error hands all three points to Polokwane City ??#BetwayPrem | @Betway_za pic.twitter.com/iQ8BFQJCQX

Matuludi's goal gave Rise and Shine maximum points in the 2-1 win over Usuthu. 

"We've got to protect him! I know, I have been there," said Arendse, a 1996 Africa Cup of Nations winner with Bafana. 

"You cannot feel any worse than Veli is