Kermit Erasmus

The new Cape Town City striker speaks openly and honestly about his challenging spell abroad, and what he feels will help him upon his return to the PSL for the second time.

KICK OFF: Hi Kermit, thanks for taking the time to speak to us. Please enlighten us on exactly how your move to Cape Town City came about? Kermit Erasmus: It all came about following my limited game-time at my previous club Vitoria Setubal [in Portugal]. I didn’t want to go through another season of not playing: if you look at the national team and the games coming up, I missed a lot of that, not because of what I’m incapable of, but because I wasn’t active at my club. It was a well-thought-through decision from me over quite a long period of time. It was always in my mind that if things did not turn out well for me, I would look to come back to South Africa. I spoke to my agent about it, and I first made contact with coach Pitso Mosimane, who said he would make it happen, but I didn’t hear from him until Cape Town City then approached me. Out of respect I gave Pitso the heads up about the situation and what I felt I was willing to do, and he asked for a day to propose something to me. But my final decision was based on my feeling, and I felt Cape Town City was the right move for me, not only for footballing reasons, but for reasons beyond that as well, in terms of my family, my wife and kids, and the environment they want to be in.

So what convinced you the most to choose City over Mamelodi Sundowns? I think it was the interest City showed in me, which is what I look for in any decision I make: how badly they wanted me to come. It’s not that Sundowns showed any less interest, but I think they have enough players in all positions while Cape Town City needed an attacking player, and I fitted the criteria. I was excited to come as I’ve always admired the club from a distance, especially from when the club started, and how they were run – everything from the media to the training and engaging with the fans. It’s a club with ambition, and it excited me to be part of that. It’s a club that wants to move forward and grow and make an impact, not only in the city but the country, which was another huge factor in making me come here.

What is always the plan then, to return to South Africa, and not try move to another club abroad? Yes, that was always in my mind as I am not getting any younger and the fact was that I tried everything I could and

A much-loved, but often misunderstood, figure in South African football, Kermit Erasmus returned from a largely successful spell in Europe in 2010, excelling in the colours of SuperSport United and Orlando Pirates before attempting another stint abroad, which proved a more challenging experience. Now back again in the PSL, this time in the colours of Cape Town City, the 28-year-old opens up to KICK OFF’s Fabio De Dominicis about his difficult spell, why he chose to come back, how he almost joined Mamelodi Sundowns, and THAT tweet.

gave everything I could in training to raise my hand, but it just wasn’t working out for me. There were times when my own teammates were asking why I wasn’t given a chance to play, which I didn’t understand either. But I just kept working hard and doing what I know I do best and improving on what I needed to, to try and get a chance. But these things happen in football: coaches have their own preferences for players in certain positions, and maybe I wasn’t one of those choices. But I accepted that and made peace with that because I learnt in life that you can only do so much with the things you can control, and the rest, you just have to let it be, which is what I did. And that’s when I decided that I had done my best, I had moved from one club to another and experienced things that helped me grow, not only as a footballer, but a human being as well. I’m here today a better person, a better footballer and a better man, and can just learn from those things, come back and implement them.

Do you think your move from Orlando Pirates to Ligue 1’s Stade Rennais four years ago was too big a step up? It wasn’t too big. In my first six months at the club, there was a coach who arrived at the same time I arrived, and he was happy to have me. I enjoyed quite a bit of game-time, even though I didn’t expect any as I knew I still had to adjust, but he gave me some time on the field which was quite good for me to get a feel for what it was like. And I felt good and settled in quite quickly: I had been in Europe before, so I knew what was expected and knew the conditions, so it wasn’t very difficult. I was looking forward to the new season, but then a new coach came in, so I didn’t get as much game-time as I would’ve liked. Then in the following January transfer window I decided to go out on loan, where I got more game-time and people could see what I was capable of. After speaking to my agent at the time, the Rennais head coach said he was happy with what he saw and said I would be part of his plans the following season. But when I returned, I was basically shut out from the main team – they didn’t give me a reason, but that was already a sign for me that I was not in the plans of the coach. So I knew in that last season I would leave in the January transfer window, but unfortunately I couldn’t get a team in the transfer window in August, so I stayed until January … it just didn’t work out. I eventually terminated my contract outside the transfer window in February, which limited my options, which then led to my move to Sweden.

How would you describe your time in Sweden with AFC Eskilstuna? It was good. The director called me every day about his willingness to have me in the team because he saw what I was capable of and how I could help the team, and it was a good time. The only difficulty I had was the artificial pitch: with my explosiveness, it was a bit of a strain on my groins and lower back, so I wasn’t used to it as it’s a different type of game on artificial pitch, but it was a good period for me and I had a decent amount of game-time. I enjoyed myself there; it’s a really good club – they don’t have a lot of resources, but try to accommodate wherever possible and do all they can for the players. I’m happy they then got promoted to the top-flight. Even though I signed a two-year contract, I had a clause which allowed me to move in the July/ August transfer window, and that’s when the move to Setubal came about.

You then only managed one substitute appearance in six months in Portugal … what went wrong? It was the coach’s choice, in terms of positions. The style of football they played involved quite a bit of long balls, and not the style I’m used to as a player, so it just didn’t work out. But it’s part of football, and you’ve just got to accept it: sometimes you wonder why, but there’s nothing you can do and you just have to focus on what is next. That’s why I kept myself in good condition as I knew I would find something in the next transfer window. In the situation I was in, I didn’t think I was a bad player or believe less in myself because of that … it made be believe in myself even

more, helped build my character and be mentally stronger. There’s a good and bad side of it, and I chose to take the good side and ran with it.

What did you learn the most from those tough four years overseas? I learnt a lot, and that the most important thing as a footballer is that, no matter how much money you make, if you don’t play, you won’t be happy. The most important thing is to play. When I moved to Rennais, I didn’t even know they were interested in me – only after the final against Etoile du Sahel in the CAF Confederation Cup, I found out that they had been following me for three months, so that’s when it came about. To realise someone is always watching, that’s one thing we as footballers need to know … to know that whatever we do, we must always give our best as there’s always someone watching. Never doubt yourself as a footballer: always believe in your ability, whether you play or not. That’s one of the things I kept telling myself: as difficult as the circumstances were for me, only because I wasn’t playing as much as I should have, I never stopped believing in myself. I never stopped working hard. It’s normal that you sometimes feel down or unhappy: we are all human, but that shouldn’t determine what you want to achieve and what you believe you stand for, what you value and how you value yourself as a footballer and as a human being. Just because you are not playing regularly, it doesn’t mean you’re a bad player.

You made your debut in City’s first game of 2019 against SuperSport United, playing the full 90 minutes for the first time since June last year. How did it feel being back on the pitch? I feel like a different player. I looked at the stats of my first game in terms of distance run and I covered close to 10km, something that I wasn’t used to do doing, and that was based on the hunger and passion I have for the game as I missed being on the field. I picked up a hamstring strain in the 78th minute of that game, but I kept on going. Despite having already made three changes, Thato Mokeke said I should go off, but I said, ‘How can I go out? I want to be on this field. I’m going to continue like this, I don’t care.’ It’s just the hunger and love I have for the game. As tired as I was, it was a great feeling to be back on the pitch – I was happy again.

Why did you choose the name Romeo to put on the back of your shirt? [Laughs] Well, it was just for a bit of change. I spoke to my dad about it, and he said it was up to me and what I wanted and he felt quite chuffed that I first spoke to him about it because I have a lot of respect for my dad. But it was just a preference choice … I had been using Erasmus throughout my career, so I wanted to change it, and thought why not? It was something neither I nor many players have done before. My dad is happy I’ve done it and supports it.

Many South African footballers have recently returned from spells in Europe, including the likes of Andile Jali, Lebogang Manyama and Ayanda Patosi. What do you think is the main factor resulting in their return home? I don’t think it can be regarded as failure, but it’s their choice. As footballers we want stability in our professional careers, and for me, I didn’t have that. I can’t speak for the other players, but I didn’t have stability and that’s why I came back – if I was playing regularly, I wouldn’t have that instability and I’d still be in Europe. I don’t care who you are – no amount of money will make you happy if you are not doing what you love. We love playing football, no matter how good you are, and that was the main reason I came back: because I wasn’t happy as I wasn’t playing football.

Turning our attention to Bafana Bafana,

your tweet following your selection as a back-up player to Shakes Mashaba’s squad in 2015 caused quite a stir … do you regret posting it? No … that’s how I felt at the time. I was probably at the best I could have been at the time, and was playing in the CAF Confederation Cup. But I don’t have anything against anyone, it’s just how I felt. I’m straightforward, and all my tweets are my own – I tweet what I feel, it’s my opinion and my account and what people say about it is their opinion. Everyone has a right to their own opinion. Sometimes people forget that we are also human beings: as much as we are role-models and people look up to us, we are also human beings and still have problems and emotions like everyone else does, so that tweet came out of frustration. I want to play for my country and want to be called up, especially when I’m doing well, so that’s what it was about. I value what I do, so I felt disappointed and belittled; I stand by what I said, and have no hard feelings or problems with anyone – it wasn’t directed towards anybody, it was just the way I felt based on the fact that I felt I needed to be part of the team as I was in form, scoring goals for Pirates in Africa and the league, and it was my best season that year.

Your last game for the national team was in June 2017 … does that play on your mind a lot? Of course! It’s in any footballer’s mind, to play for their national team. Right now my focus is on doing well at my club, then that will come. It’s no use focusing on Bafana, and then not doing well where I’m supposed to at City – it’s based on performance: if you do well at your club, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t be called up. I know there’s a lot of players who could be doing well at the same time, but it’s up to the coach to decide who gets selected. It may or may not be you, and if it’s not, you just need to work harder for the next time.

What would you say is the highlight of your career? It was definitely winning the Nedbank Cup with Pirates, and being able to bring my daughter on the field. And another would be going to France, because I was planning on going to Europe again, but I had given up as I hadn’t heard of interest from anybody, and it then just came about that a French team was interested in me. So it was a big achievement for me, being back in South Africa from Europe, and then making it back to Europe again, which is one of the most difficult things for a footballer to do.

And your lowlight? Definitely the last year or two, not playing as regularly as I wanted to. Last season was the toughest year for me personally: not playing, being away from my family and kids … it’s been the most difficult time for me, not only as a footballer, but as a person. Even though I was training with the team, I wasn’t able to do what I love and play in any games. I wasn’t with who I love, my kids and my wife, and that was the most difficult period for me, but it made me stronger as a person.

Do you have any regrets over your career up to this point? I have no regrets – I make decisions based on how I feel and I try not think with too much emotion, but with my head, to make conscious decisions. This is my path to walk, and it happened the way it did … yes, it didn’t turn out the way I would have liked it to, but I’ve made peace with it. If I look on the bright side, I’m back in South Africa and I’m excited to be here. I’m hungrier than I’ve ever been before and hopefully I can help achieve things with this amazing team.

What is it that you’d like to achieve with Cape Town City? My aim is just to play consistently, improve and get better. There’s always room for improvement as a player, to get better, play consistently and win games. I don’t think there’s a specific goal in mind that I want to achieve; I just want to be on the field in every game, enjoy myself and give everything until the last minute, and enjoy victory with my teammates. There’s lots to look forward to, and I’m excited.