Burnley v Plymouth Argyle - big match preview

HE has been called the Clown Prince of football...among other things.

But Bruce Grobbelaar has proved in more than 500 League games that, above all else, he is an enduring character.

And Plymouth Argyle, due at Turf Moor for a Second Division clash tomorrow, are delighted about that.

This time next year, the man who captivated the Kop with his daring, yes at times eccentric, exploits for season after successful season will be celebrating his 40th birthday.

But he is far from ready to look back on a remarkable career that saw him emerge from Zimbabwe's bush war to become a highly-successful combatant at the top of English football.

Indeed, Grobbelaar is relishing the future with eager anticipation and intends to play on as long as possible - until the turn of the century at the very least. By that time, he could be combining his goalkeeping role with a place as national coach of Zimbabwe.

But being out on the field remains a clear priority for a goalkeeper who has certainly done his bit for Plymouth, after moving to Home Park on the eve of the season following his release from Southampton.

Grobbelaar has already turned down the offer of the Zimbabwe job on a permanent basis but he has been in temporary charge of their last two matches and a link up between player and his country in some shape or form remains a possibility.

Especially with the African Nations Championship finals to be held in Zimbabwe in the year 2,000.

He said: "I was offered the job on a permanent basis in the summer but I wanted to pursue my football in this country, hence my signing for Plymouth Argyle.

"Names had been mentioned about who was going to take over as national coach but they were people who had achieved very little in football. "So they thought of myself.

"They have given me the opportunity of these two games (against Tanzania and, earlier this month, Sudan) and, hopefully, I have proved I can successfully coach the young lads in Zimbabwe.

"Because they respect me for what I have done in English football.

"Zimbabwe was where I first learned my football. My ambition was to play abroad, which I have done and now I am trying to give something back."

Grobbelaar admits he would have to think long and hard about it if there was another offer from the Zimbabwe FA.

And, if he was to consider it seriously, he would need a right-hand man to look after the administration.

Presumably to allow the keeper to carry on playing as long as possible.

His immediate target is more clean sheets with Plymouth and, in the longer term, success at international level with Zimbabwe to complement progress at Home Park. Zimbabwe are aiming to qualify for the African Nations Cup finals for the first time in Burundi in 1998 and Grobbelaar added: "We are hosting the finals in the year 2,000 and we want to qualify for 1998 so we can say we have done it by right, rather than just by staging the tournament."

And will the keeper still be throwing himself around the goalmouth by then?

"Will I still be playing in 1998? I'll still be around in 2,000!"

Meanwhile, he continues to be a central character in the Plymouth team which - like last Saturday's visitors Notts County - has struggled to score goals in recent weeks but has made it equally tough for the opposition to break them down.

Argyle fans welcomed the close-season capture of the extrovert Grobbelaar and he has not disappointed them so far.

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