Former Warriors goalkeeper Tapuwa Kapini says he has not thought of retiring yet and would want to play for his childhood club Highlanders before hanging up his boots.
The 37-year-old Sekhukhune United goalie wants to emulate veteran Italian goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon’s longevity.
Buffon (44) recently signed a new two-year deal with second-tier side Parma in his homeland and is set to play until he is at least 36. Kapini told Sowetan:
I haven’t thought about retirement yet. All I am thinking about is just going to training every morning and doing well… motivate these young boys that if I can play at my age, what about them?
Buffon is 44 and in Africa people expect us to retire at 37… imagine. Seeing Buffon still going strong is a huge inspiration for many of us.
Kapini has only played in Sekhukhune’s first three league games of the season before the arrival of Toaster Nsabata who took the No 1 jersey.
The Zimbabwean said he has not lost hope at Babina Noko and will do his best whenever he gets an opportunity to play. Said Kapini:
Football is all about competition. If there’s someone who’s doing well ahead of you, you must be patient. Toaster is doing well at the moment but I won’t stop pushing him.
There’s also Ayanda Dlamini, who’s a top keeper in his own right, so the competition is stiff. Whenever I get a chance to play, I’ll grab it with both hands.