SuperSport United assistant coach Andre Arendse offered a measured assessment of Vincent Pule’s debut for the club following their encounter with Orlando Pirates in the MTN8.
Matsatsantsa’s journey in the 2024 MTN8 came to an abrupt end on Saturday night as they suffered a 3-1 defeat to Pirates at a packed Orlando Stadium.
Pule marked his debut for SuperSport with a goal, but it proved to be a mere consolation as defending champions Pirates, thanks to strikes from Olisa Ndah, Monnapule Saleng, and Evidence Makgopa, advanced to the semi-finals.
Pule, a talented winger, joined SuperSport United on a free transfer during the off-season after his contract with Orlando Pirates, the Soweto giants, expired.
Pule proved to be a significant attacking threat in his debut against Pirates, signalling a potentially massive signing for Gavin Hunt’s side.
However, before his move to SuperSport, the attacker struggled for regular game time at Pirates. He made only 11 appearances across all competitions without finding the net. Pirates coach Jose Riveiro preferred the likes of Monnapule Saleng, Relebohile Mofokeng, and Deon Hotto in the wide areas, while injuries also hampered Pule’s progress.
WHAT DID ANDRE ARENDSE SAY ABOUT VINCENT PULE?
With Pule promising to be one of the key players for SuperSport in the new season, Andre Arendse anticipates a good season for the former Bidvest Wits star. Arendse faced the media after head coach Hunt was sent off in the dying minutes for arguing with the referee.
“He’s a player you can have on your team any day. He has worked with Gavin and me before, and we know what he’s capable of despite his age, which is still young,” Arendse said.
“We’ve see what he can do in pre-season training especially in [friendly] games, we worked him in different positions around the team.
“He offered us a more attacking role especially in wider areas. We brought him just behind Bradley [Grobler] when he was still on the pitch and he gives you that support and he’s got goals in him.”
In addition, Arendse also praised Pule for his respect towards his former club, where he enjoyed a six-year spell, capturing three MTN8 titles and two Nedbank Cups before leaving at the end of last season. Pule notably refrained from celebrating his goal.
“Hats off to him for being respectful after scoring against his old club, which is the right thing to do. That’s just the nature of Pule and we really going to have a good season ahead with a player like that.”
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