SuperSport United assistant coach Andre Arendse has backed AmaZulu and Bafana Bafana goalkeeper Veli Mothwa to overcome his recent howlers in goal.

Mothwa has come under scrutiny after making a costly error in Bafana Bafana’s 2-2 draw against Uganda in the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers earlier this month, in the absence of captain Ronwen Williams. 

The AmaZulu shot-stopper then followed up with another mistake in stoppage time of Usuthu’s opening Betway Premiership match of the season against Polokwane City last weekend, which subsequently saw Pablo Franco Martin’s side lose the game. 

Now, the former Bafana international has called for Mothwa to be supported to bounce back stronger, urging the South African football fraternity to protect the 33-year-old goal-minder, who was a hero in the 2021 COSAFA Cup triumph. 

“When I look at someone like Veli, we have to protect him, ” said Arendse. 

“I know I have been there,” added, who blundered when Bafana lost to Spain in the 2002 FIFA World Cup group stage match. 

” And you cannot feel any worse than Veli is feeling, and he will feel it for a long time. 

“It has happened to me on the biggest stage of world football, I know what he is going through, and we have to help him, we have to protect him. Whether it is keeping him playing or giving him a rest, talking to him, and rebuilding his confidence. The one thing about goalkeeping is that it’s a thankless job because there is no margin of error, ” he added. 

Arendse went on to state that the two consecutive errors at international and club levels don’t define or make Mothwa a bad player overnight, as he continued his defense for the former Chippa United goalkeeper. 

“As much as we are developing people, we have to allow mistakes because it will happen, ” said Arendse, who won the 1996 Africa Cup Of Nations with Bafana Bafana. 

“And if we start breaking people down, that’s not going to help the benefit of our football. That does not make Veli a bad player overnight, we’ve got to be seen as helping people.” 

It remains to be seen if Mothwa will get the nod to start in goal when AmaZulu hosts Kaizer Chiefs next Wednesday, with Martin remaining coy when asked if he will drop the goalkeeper who was part of Hugo Broos’ 2023 AFCON bronze medal-winning squad.