In a continuation from the interview with Gaizka Mendieta in today's issue of Soccer Laduma, Andre Arendse reveals how he was taken for a doping test after he conceded three goals against Spain in the 2002 FIFA World Cup.
The former Bafana Bafana goalkeeper endured one of his toughest battles in goal against La Furia Roja, seeing Raul beat him twice, and Mendieta scoring a set-piece past him.
Chatting to Fan Park's editor Rossella Marrai-Ricco, the Bidvest Wits assistant coach spoke about his off-field experience after the final whistle blew in that 3-2 defeat.
"Do you know what the most disappointing thing about that game was? I remember at the end of the game I was selected for a doping test," revealed the 48-year-old.
"We had lost the game and, at the same time, we didn't know what was happening in the other game. There was still a chance we could've gone through if Slovenia had beaten Paraguay.
"I remember one of the medical officials came to fetch me directly off the field and took me to the doping room…
"Now, in the doping room, they have TVs. So I am sitting waiting in the room due to be tested and I still don't know what is happening in the other game.
"As I look up at the TV, I see the Paraguayans celebrating with each other, which meant that they won their game and that they went through (to the knockout stages).
"And at the end of all that, we literally got knocked out of that World Cup by one goal. Every time I see Gaizka's goal, I go: 'You bugger, it was your goal!'"
Arendse and Mendieta have since reunited in the SuperSport studios on a few occasions, and the goalkeeper went on to describe what happened after they saw each other for the first time since that fateful night in Daejeon.
"The minute we saw each other – before we were introduced, before we even said "hi" – we both had this wry smile on our faces because we knew our minds went exactly back to that moment in Korea 2002," continues the former Fulham stopper.
"He kept saying to me that we were so unlucky. It was so disappointing you know, but it was such a magical moment and a magical time in my international career having got to play on the biggest stage in world football.
"It will be something that I will live with throughout my life. It was great."
Do you remember that game between South Africa and Spain at the 2002 World Cup?
