Daylon Claasen at his wits end over niggling run of injuries
Claasen made his debut for Ajax Cape Town just days past his 17th birthday in the 2008/09 season and as soon as he had turned 18 was off the Amsterdam.
He played two seasons for Ajax Amsterdam’s reserve side, without ever managing to break into the first team, and was sold to Lierse in Belgium.
There he excelled, and for the next two campaigns was among the leading midfielders in the league before the first of his injury problems surfaced with a knee injury that kept him out for six months.
That injury problem scuppered a move to then Premier League side Queens Park Rangers, who had been all set to take him before it was determined the issue would mean a lengthy spell on the sidelines.
His lack of game-time turned off a number of suitors and he decided to rebuild his career in Poland with Lech Poznań, where he scored on debut and played 23 games in the season for the side.
It was always going to be a short-term stay and he had trials with English Premier League Everton and Hull City, with the latter offering him a contract. However, he failed in his application for a work permit as he had not played the required number of matches for the national team.
When the opportunity to sign for German Bundesliga II side 1860 Munich came along, he took it. The club have traditionally been a top name in Germany but have fallen on hard times of late. Still, the Bundesliga II is as competitive than many European leagues and so the level was high.
But he continued to be plagued by niggles, which affected his form as he had to continuously find match fitness almost from scratch, though in the 2015/16 season he did manage to find some continuity.
His last game for 1860 was in February, with the club eventually relegated at the end of the Bundesliga II season.
Claasen will hope for a change of luck more than anything at Wits, his ability is unquestioned, and if he can stay fit he could even eclipse the aging Pienaar as a key player for the team this season.