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Goal takes a look at the veteran shooting stopper’s season as he looks to win a new contract at the Houghton-based team.
The current Premier Soccer League (PSL) season has seen Wayne Sandilands prove himself against the Orlando Pirates.
The veteran goalkeeper produced a strong performance in the game as the Buccaneers ended their six-game league winless streak on Saturday afternoon.
His heroism as a goalkeeper saw Josef Zinnbauer’s team secure a close 2-1 victory over SuperSport United by saving two penalties during the match.
Sandilands also made some impressive saves to deny players like Bradley Grobler, Ghampani Lungu and Guily Manziba throughout the match to keep Matsatsantsa at bay.
Former international Bafana Bafana is the same player who started the current season as the Bucs’ second-choice goalkeeper, with the Soweto giants bringing in a French closer, Joris Delle.
Some felt that the 37-year-old had passed his prime and that he should make way for the younger goalies in the early stages of this period.
However, Delle, who has played for top Dutch club Feyenoord, fell short of expectations as he conceded eight goals in three league games in September 2019.
The 30-year-old was replaced by Sandilands, who came back stronger and never looked back after claiming the Pirates’ number one jersey.
Sandilands proved that experience cannot be bought as he was a critical part of the team during their 10-game unbeaten streak in the league between November 2019 and February 2020.
Nicknamed Mfundisi (The Shepherd), Sandilands was named Man of the Match after his outstanding performance in the Pirates’ victory over Black Leopards in February.
This was a month after Mfundisi served the final six months of his three-year contract with the Buccaneers and he has played like a man with a point to prove ever since.
The 1-0 victory over Leopards was followed by a six-game winless streak for the Pirates, but Sandilands continued to impress between the team’s clubs.
With the team struggling to score goals, the experienced shot stopper often kept his team in the game with a brilliant goalkeeper, while also leading from behind.
The Benoni-born player recorded three successive clean sheets against the Lamontville Golden Arrows, Mamelodi Sundowns and Bidvest Wits and the matches ended in goalless draws.
His 10 clean sheets in 25 games make him one of the PSL’s best goalkeepers this season, with only SuperSport United’s Ronwen Williams having recorded more (13), and Sandilands having played three fewer games.
Sandilands, who have kept three clean sheets in their last six games, has surely shown that he deserves a new contract as the club will need his quality and experience in the new 2020/21 season.
His form will also be key for the Buccaneers in the last two games, as they look to secure a top three result in the league and qualify for next season’s Confederation Cup.
