Bafana Bafana goalkeeper Ricardo Goss spoke about his journey in the beautiful game and named his role models, growing up as a football fan.
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The story
Goalkeeper Ricardo Goss, who has returned to his parent club Mamelodi Sundowns, sat down with GQ South Africa to discuss his football career, where it all started for him and the legendary goalkeepers he looks up to.
Goss spend the last two seasons on loan at SuperSport United, with his consistent performances for Matsatsantsa earning him regular selections in Hugo Broos' Bafana Bafana squads.
The 30-year-old Durban-born and raised shot-stopper could be competing with Ronwen Williams, Jody February, Denis Onyango, and Reyaad Pieterse for the number 1 spot in goal for Sundowns in the 2024/25 season, with reports circulating that he could still head out on loan to maintain his regular game time.
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Goss started out at Golden Arrows and enjoyed stints at Real Kings in the NFD and the now defunct Bidvest Wits, and will be eager to continue his consistent showings in the upcoming season.
"Goose" as he's affectionately known, revealed that he didn't start out as a goalkeeper: "Growing up, I played as a striker. I started out as a goalkeeper for Chesterville, where I grew up, teaching a family member how to be a goalkeeper while playing as a striker. I used winter gloves at that time," he tells GQ.
When asked about his football role models and goalkeeping inspirations growing up, Goss answered: "Brian "Spiderman" Baloyi was my inspiration. I admired his style so much that I wanted to grow dreadlocks like him, but as a person of colour, our hair texture is different.
"When he was captain, he wore bandanas as armbands, which inspired me to do the same. Iker Casillas also inspired me with his impressive game reading skills."
Goss emphasised the importance of taking care of his body, pointing out that maintaining physical fitness allows his career to continue to thrive. Aged 30 as a goalkeeper, Goss is still firmly in his peak years with plenty of football ahead of him.
The Durbanite mentioned that he enjoys spending time with his family in KwaZulu Natal during the off-season, a time views as the best to catch up with his loved ones with the regular season keeping him too busy.
