Keith Groeneveld
Teenager Keith Groeneveld is making rapid progress at top Belgian side Standard Liege and is tipped for a big future in the game after catching the eye of English giants Manchester United and Arsenal. But South Africa’s loss could be Belgium’s gain. KICK
The South African starlet is rapidly rising through the ranks in Belgium
Among the many emerging young South African talents that have caught the eye in recent times – and some that have quickly made the elevation to Bafana Bafana – there is another gifted South African teenager. But one who could follow a different path. Kimberley-born Keith Groeneveld is as exciting a prospect as Phakamani Mahlambi and Luther Singh, but for now has pinned his colours to the mast of Belgium, having turned out for the country’s Under-18 side. The 17-year-old centre-back is also progressing well at top Belgian club Standard Liege, where he is in the first year of a three-season deal, 12 months on from catching the eye of Manchester United and Arsenal. Groeneveld has a Belgian father and a South African mother, and has lived in Europe since the age of four. But he still has strong ties back to the Northern Cape and is a regular visitor to the country. “I have both Belgian and South African passports,” Groeneveld tells KICK OFF. “We moved from Kimberley to my father’s hometown of Antwerp, Belgium, in 2003 when I had just turned four. I’ve spent the biggest part of my life in Belgium. “We have a very close family in Belgium, but we are also very close with our family in Kimberley. My ouma from Kimberley visits every year and we go over there every two or three years. “Being a professional footballer has now made it more difficult for me to find the time to travel there.” It appears that he’s braced himself, already at such a tender age, for questions about his split loyalties. But he’s made it clear that he identifies as Belgian, which puts Bafana a close second behind Belgium in the race to have him in national team colours. “I might seem to be more Belgian or European because I grew up here and my principal language is Dutch,” Groeneveld says. “Though I also speak English and French, and although I know a lot about South Africa, I don’t really know what it’s like to grow up and live in there. “I’m sure in many respects it would have been harder to achieve what I have if I had stayed in the country. But at the same time I feel very much part of South Africa and Africa. My roots are there, and without your roots, you die. I am very proud to be a part of that great country.” Groeneveld is firmly establishing his reputation as a top up-andcoming player in Belgium, but could already have been in England after
impressing in trials at United and Arsenal before the start of this season. “Back in Kimberley my whole family is Manchester United-mad, so I grew up loving the club. To be invited for trials by them twice is absolutely amazing,” he says. “When I was 13, it was just a week without any intent on neither side for a move as I was still too young to go to a foreign league. Last year it was a trial for real. “I spent a good week with the juniors and scored in a friendly against Burnley. While we were there we were contacted by Arsenal as well. I spent several days at London Colney [Arsenal Training Centre] but, however tempting a move to England was, we decided that it would be better to finish my high school education in Belgium first and so I signed a threeyear deal at Standard.” Groeneveld showed a lot of early promise and has risen through the ranks at one of Belgium’s biggest clubs. “I started playing at a small amateur club in my neighbourhood and later on Berchem Sport, a third division club, invited me to move and I did. When I was nine, Royal Antwerp – the club I support – wanted me and that was a dream come true. “I played for them for six seasons. I was often invited by bigger clubs, but my father wanted me to stay close to home. While at Antwerp I had that first trial at Manchester United and that was the first time I believed I had a chance of becoming a professional football player. “When I was 15, Antwerp was on the brink of bankruptcy, so I moved to nearby KV Mechelen in the first division. After two seasons Standard offered me my first professional contract, which runs up to 2019. “Standard is a fantastic club with a great stadium, and loud and passionate fans. They have a very good reputation in launching the careers of young players. Just having been there is often enough to get chances in big clubs elsewhere. I am very proud to call myself a ‘Rouche’ [Red].” Groeneveld has yet to make his professional senior debut, but feels it will come sooner rather than later. “I have played one friendly this season in the first team as a substitute. And I have trained with the first team a few times as well. My first season was one of adaptation,” he says. “My goal for next season is to the become captain of the Under-21s and to train with the first team every day.” Belgium have already spotted Groeneveld’s potential and brought him in to the junior national team structures at Under-18 level.
“I was very proud. Wearing the national jersey as the Belgian anthem sounded was another unique moment in my life. I was in the starting XI in games against Spain and Japan.” Although he is now playing as a central defender, Groeneveld says he has attributes that mean he can slot into the midfield as well. “I play mainly as a centre-back, but I can also play as a holding midfielder, which I used to until two years ago,” he says. “I am a leader on the pitch. I am loud and ‘coach’ my teammates. I am fast, and a good tackler and header. “But I’m only 17 and not completely matured physically. I need to gain more muscle and weight. And most importantly, experience. You need 95 minutes of complete focus, and only time and games will teach you that. “A striker can turn a very poor performance into brilliant one in a second. A centre-back can ruin his brilliant performance in that same second.” The teenager also says South Africa can use the example of the rise of the Belgian national team in recent years to give hope that better times are around the corner. “I am very proud that Belgium is doing so well and I hope South Africa will soon follow on that road,” he says. “Belgium went from being number 65 on the FIFA Rankings in 2009 to being number one in 2015. That should inspire Bafana Bafana. Nothing is impossible in football!” Although he has his eye on a national team career with Belgium, Groeneveld says he would never close the door on Bafana Bafana. Asked if he would consider playing for South Africa in the future, his answer is emphatic: “Of course, it would be an honour!”