By JOHN GOLIATH
Port Elizabeth
'The Dutch way' has been very helpful to South African football players over the last decade.
Two of the country's biggest football exports, striker Benni McCarthy and midfielder Steven Pienaar, have been among those who have benefited from leaving South Africa at a young age to develop their football in the Netherlands at Ajax Amsterdam.
Now, two 19-year-old exports - incidentally, also a striker and an attacking midfielder - are looking to make their names in the Bafana Bafana set-up.
'It is a huge honour for me to be part of a team'
Striker Kermit Eramus and midfielder Daylon Claasen have been included in the national squad for Saturday's friendly against Japan at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium here, as well as the game against Jamaica in Bloemfontein on Tuesday.
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The pair were rewarded for their excellent performances at the recent Under-20 World Cup, in which they helped South Africa reach the second round.
Erasmus, who is on loan at Excelsior Rotterdam from Dutch giants Feyenoord, is being tipped as the man to succeed McCarthy when the burly striker calls it a day. He is not the tallest of players, but is a stocky forward in the mould of Brazil legend Romario and Manchester United and England striker Wayne Rooney.
After netting three goals in four games, new coach Carlos Alberto Parreira couldn't ignore the Port Elizabeth-born youngster, who says he wasn't all that surprised by his call-up.
"I was hoping to get the call-up, because I played well at the recent Under-20 World Cup and built a platform to get to next year's senior World Cup," Erasmus said. "I scored three goals in four games and that showed that I can be given an opportunity to play at the senior level.
'You have to sacrifice a lot to make it abroad'
"But it's a great achievement for me to be selected, especially having the chance to be part of the Bafana team in my home town.
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