Benoni resident Rowen Fernandez (36) has returned to the club where his professional career first had lift off, Bidvest Wits, having just recently put pen to paper on a two-year deal.
The veteran goalkeeper, who has played for Bafana Bafana on 23 occasions, is hoping that his return to the “Clever Boys” will revitalise his game and give him more playing time on the professional football scene.
With his move to coach Gavin Hunt’s team, Fernandez’s 17-year professional career has come around full circle at the club he first represented in 1997, before making a big move to Kaizer Chiefs in 2001.
The shot-stopper has also plied his trade in Europe, in the German Bundesliga, with Arminia Bielefeld, followed by a spell at Supersport United.
“I am quite excited to still be on the playing field,” he told the City Times, last week.
“It feels great to be back home at Wits.
“It has been good fun so far and I am really enjoying it here.”
When asked what it is like to work with Hunt, the former Benoni Northerns Football Club player said: “He is a difficult coach to please and demands 100 per cent from his players all the time, which is never a bad thing.”
The Benoni High School old boy is looking forward to staking his claim for game time at Wits and realises that the competition for the number one spot in goals is extremely stiff, particularly with another Bafana Bafana goalkeeper, Moeneeb Josephs, in the squad.
“It is nothing that I am not used to, having played for some big teams in the past; I realise that I have a battle on my hands, but I am up for it,” he added.
With regards to Wits’ Premier Soccer League (PSL) title chances the goalkeeper was positive.
“We are a small club but we always aim to box in the superstar league.
“I am not saying that we are going to win the PSL, but we have certainly got the squad to challenge anybody.”
The PSL kicked off on August 9 and Wits have picked up points from their opening two fixtures – a 1-0 victory over Fernandez’s last club, Supersport United, and a 1-1 draw with the University of Pretoria.
“The games are coming thick and fast so there is not much time to dwell on past mistakes,” he said.
On a personal note, the Rynfield resident is aiming to play as many games as he can this season, while remaining injury free.
The gloveman has always been proud of his Benoni roots and likes to give back where he can.
Fernandez helps facilitate goalkeeper clinics for youngsters during the school holidays and can often be seen showing his support for the Benoni Northerns first team, on Saturday afternoons.
