Kermit Erasmus Explained

Kermit Erasmus
Fullname:Kermit Romeo Erasmus[1]
Height:1.71 m
Birth Date:1990 7, df=yes
Birth Place:Port Elizabeth, South Africa
Position:Striker, winger
Youthclubs1:Rangers (South Africa)
Youthclubs2:Park United
Youthclubs3:SuperSport United
Years1:2007–2008
Clubs1:SuperSport United
Caps1:12
Goals1:5
Years2:2008–2010
Clubs2:Feyenoord
Caps2:5
Goals2:1
Years3:2009–2010
Clubs3:Excelsior (loan)
Caps3:34
Goals3:15
Years4:2010–2013
Clubs4:SuperSport United
Caps4:58
Goals4:17
Years5:2013–2016
Clubs5:Orlando Pirates
Caps5:63
Goals5:19
Years6:2016–2018
Clubs6:Rennes
Caps6:10
Goals6:2
Years7:2017
Clubs7:Lens (loan)
Caps7:13
Goals7:3
Years8:2018
Clubs8:AFC Eskilstuna
Caps8:11
Goals8:2
Years9:2018
Clubs9:Vitória de Setúbal
Caps9:0
Goals9:0
Years10:2019–2020
Clubs10:Cape Town City
Caps10:38
Goals10:18
Years11:2020–2022
Clubs11:Mamelodi Sundowns
Caps11:26
Goals11:8
Years12:2022–2024
Clubs12:Orlando Pirates
Caps12:11
Goals12:5
Nationalyears1:2009
Nationalteam1:South Africa U-20
Nationalcaps1:4
Nationalgoals1:3
Nationalyears3:2010–
Nationalteam3:South Africa
Nationalcaps3:15
Nationalgoals3:2
Club-Update:6 October 2022
Nationalteam-Update:10 March 2019

Kermit Romeo Erasmus (born 8 July 1990) is a South African professional soccer player who played for South African Premier Soccer League side Orlando Pirates and the South Africa national team.

Born in Port Elizabeth, Erasmus moved to Pretoria as a teenager where he made his professional debut with SuperSport United in 2007. He spent the next two seasons in the Netherlands with Feyenoord and Excelsior before returning to SuperSport United. During his second spell with the club, he made over 50 appearances and helped his side to the Nedbank Cup title before joining Orlando Pirates in 2013. He led Pirates to the same cup title in 2014 before leaving to join Rennes in France the following year.

Erasmus struggled with Rennes, however, and shortly after spending a stint on loan at Ligue 2 side, Lens, was released by the club. He spent the remainder of the 2018 in Sweden, with Eskilstuna, and Portugal, with Vitória de Setúbal.

Club career

Early career

Erasmus was groomed by, and graduated from the SuperSport Feyenoord Academy (now SuperSport United Youth Academy) to join Feyenoord but remained at SuperSport United on trial for 2007–08 season.[2] During the campaign, Erasmus made 10 appearances and scored once as Supersport clinched their first ever PSL title.[3]

Feyenoord

On 29 May 2008, Eredivisie side Feyenoord announced the signing of Erasmus on a three-year deal from South African affiliate-club SuperSport United[4] and handed him the no. 15 jersey for the 2008–09 season.[5] He made only four appearances for the Rotterdam club during the campaign[6] and in July 2009 it was announced Erasmus would be loaned to satellite club Excelsior in the Eerste Divisie for the following season. Erasmus, together with compatriot Kamohelo Mokotjo and six other Feyenoord players were loaned to Excelsior as a result of a new partnership between the two Rotterdam-based clubs.[7]

Loan to Excelsior

Erasmus made his debut for Excelsior on 8 August and netted a late, headed equalizer in a 2–2 draw Telstar.[8] By the conclusion of the season, Erasmus had netted 12 goals in 30 appearances whilst on loan at Excelsior. He did not return to Feyenoord, however, and the no.15 jersey he had previously worn was handed to Mokotjo for the upcoming season. During his time in the Netherlands Erasmus was nominated for the 2009 CAF Most Promising Talent of the Year award but lost out in the end to Ghana's Dominic Adiyiah.[9]

Supersport United

On 10 July 2010, it was announced that Erasmus would be returning to South Africa to rejoin SuperSport United after failing to make the grade at Feyenoord.[6] Eleven days after his return, Erasmus made his second appearance for Supersport United and scored what was described as a "sensational strike" in an MTN 8 loss against Moroka Swallows.[10]

On 26 May 2012, Erasmus scored the second goal in Matsatsantsa's 2–0 win over Mamelodi Sundowns in the Nedbank Cup final.[11] He left Supersport United at the end of the following season having made over 50 league appearances during his second spell at the club.

Orlando Pirates

On 23 July 2013, Irvin Khoza, the Chairman of Orlando Pirates, confirmed the signing of Erasmus from Supersport United.[12] The following day Pirates lodged a request to CAF for Erasmus to be registered for the upcoming CAF Champions League campaign. The request was denied, however, as Erasmus had already represented Supersport United in the CAF Confederations Cup earlier in the season.[13] As per CAF regulations, a player is only eligible to feature for one club in CAF inter-club competitions during the course of a season.

The 2014–15 season proved to be the most fruitful of Erasmus' spell in Soweto as he netted a career-best 10 goals over the course of the PSL campaign. He also scored his first professional hat-trick on 2 May in a 3–0 CAF Confederations Cup win over Gabonese side CF Mounana.[14] Erasmus then crowned the season off in style on 17 May by netting a match-winning brace as Orlando Pirates triumphed 3–1 over Bidvest Wits to lift the 2014 Nedbank Cup.[15]

On 8 January 2016, Erasmus was named in the 18-man CAF Team of the Year.[16] He had also been nominated for the 2015 CAF African-based African Player of the Year award alongside Orlando Pirates teammate Filipe Ovono but eventually lost out to Mbwana Ally Samatta of Tanzania.[17] Eight days later, he netted a late equalizer in 3–3 PSL draw with Maritzburg United, with Pirates having trailed 3–0 in the first half.[18] The goal proved to be Erasmus' final contribution for the Sea Robbers as the following week he completed a move to French Ligue 1 side Rennes.

Rennes

On 28 January 2016, Erasmus signed for Ligue 1 club Stade Rennais on a two-and-a-half-year deal.[19] He made his debut for the club on 13 March, coming on as an 80th-minute substitute for Pedro Henrique in a 2–2 draw with Lyon.[20] His only other appearance for the season came on the final day of the campaign in a 2–1 loss to Bastia which saw Rennes end eighth in Ligue 1.[21] He made his first appearance of the following campaign in Rennes' opening match of the season, coming on as a second-half substitute for Gélson Fernandes in a 1–0 defeat to Nice.[22]

Loan to Lens

On 21 January 2017, Erasmus signed for Ligue 2 side RC Lens for the remainder of the season.[23] He scored once in 12 league appearances for the club, with the goal coming on the final day of the season as Lens narrowly missed out on promotion.[24] He returned to Rennes at the end of the campaign but, by February 2018 failed to make another appearance and was released by the club.[25]

AFC Eskilstuna

On 26 March 2018, Erasmus signed a two-year deal with AFC Eskilstuna, newly relegated to Superettan, Sweden's second tier.[26] He went on to play 11 league games for the club, scoring twice, during the season.[27]

Vitória

On 17 August 2018, he transferred to Portuguese club Vitória de Setúbal in the Primeira Liga.[27]

Cape Town City Football Club

On 18 December 2018, Erasmus signed for PSL side Cape Town City.[28]

Orlando Pirates return

On 23 September 2022, Orlando Pirates confirmed the return of Erasmus on a two-year deal, from Mamelodi Sundowns.

International career

Youth

Erasmus represented South Africa at the 2009 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Egypt and scored three goals throughout the course of the tournament.[29]

Senior

Erasmus was called up to the senior squad for the first time in March 2008 for South Africa's friendly against Zimbabwe. In doing so, he was in line to break the record then-held by former captain Aaron Mokoena and become South Africa's youngest ever full international.[2] He did not take to the field and had to wait until 4 September 2010 before he made his debut, coming on as a second-half substitute for Katlego Mphela against Niger in a 2012 African Cup of Nations qualifier.[30] Erasmus had to wait a further three years before scoring his first goal for South Africa, finally netting in a 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification match against Botswana on 7 September 2013.[31]

Personal life

In 2010 Erasmus starred in the award-winning feature Documentary film Soka Afrika which highlighted the plight of young footballers across Africa.[32]

Career statistics

Club

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueCup1League Cup2Continental3Other4Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
SuperSport United2007–08Premier Soccer League10100000000101
Feyenoord2008–09Eredivisie400000200060
Excelsior (loan)2009–10Eerste Divisie3112100000403612
SuperSport United2010–11PSL19400112000225
2011–12PSL19510000000205
2012–13PSL19520100000225
Total5714302100006415
Orlando Pirates2013–14PSL26421400000325
2014–15PSL2610204200003212
2015–16PSL13331000000164
Total6517728200008021
Rennes2015–16Ligue 1200000000020
2016–17Ligue 18020000000100
Total10020000000120
Lens (loan)2016–17Ligue 212100100040131
AFC Eskilstuna2018Superettan11200000000112
Vitória F.C.2018–19Primeira Liga000010000010
Cape Town City2018–19PSL13300000000133
2019–20PSL2513000000002513
Total3816000000003816
Mamelodi Sundowns2020–21PSL110000001021
Career total23965132123205027169

1 Includes Telkom Knockout and KNVB Beker matches. 2 Includes MTN 8 matches. 3 Includes UEFA Europa League and CAF Champions League matches.4 Includes Jupiler Playoff matches.

Appearances in CAF Confederations Cup
YearClubAppearancesGoals
2013SuperSport United51
2015Orlando Pirates105
Total156

International

[33]

Appearances and goals by national team and year
National teamYearAppsGoals
South Africa201020
201110
201210
201341
201430
201731
201830
201910
Total182

[33]

Scores and results list South Africa's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Erasmus goal.

List of international goals scored by Kermit Erasmus
Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1 7 September 2013 1–0 4–1 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification
2 25 March 2017 Moses Mabhida Stadium, Durban, South Africa 1–0 3–1 Friendly

Honours

Club

Supersport United

2007–08

2011–12

Club

Mamelodi Sundowns

2021-22

Orlando Pirates

2013–14; 2023

Individual

2015 (as a substitute)

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: FIFA U-20 World Cup Egypt 2009™: List of Players: South Africa . FIFA . 16 . 6 October 2009 . 26 July 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20091013164551/http://www.fifa.com/mm/document/tournament/competition/01/10/28/62/fwyc_2009_squadlists.pdf . 13 October 2009 .
  2. Web site: Erasmus can make history . Supersport . 11 March 2008. 15 March 2016.
  3. Web site: Erasmus returning to Holland. KickOff. 28 May 2008. 15 March 2016. 16 March 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160316073814/http://www.kickoff.com/news/3162/erasmus-returning-to-holland. dead.
  4. News: Feyenoord Legt Kermit Erasmus Vast. Feyenoord . Dutch . Feyenoord sign Kermit Erasmus . 29 May 2008 . 15 March 2016.
  5. News: Rugnummers Eerste Training. Feyenoord . Dutch . Feyenoord Squad Numbers . 5 July 2008 . 15 March 2016.
  6. News: Kermit Erasmus reunites with Gavin Hunt. KickOff. 12 July 2010 . 15 March 2016.
  7. News: Kermit Erasmus keert terug naar Supersport United . Feyenoord . Dutch . Kermit Erasmus returns to Supersport United . 10 July 2010 . 10 July 2010.
  8. News: Erasmus scores on debut. KickOff. 8 August 2009 . 15 March 2016.
  9. News: Edwards . Piers . Drogba a surprise choice . 13 October 2020 . BBC Sport . 12 March 2010.
  10. Web site: Swallows beat SuperSport in MTN8 . KickOff . 21 August 2010 . 15 March 2016.
  11. Web site: SuperSport United 2-0 Mamelodi Sundowns: Matsatsantsa win Nedbank Cup title. Goal . 26 May 2012 . 15 March 2015.
  12. Web site: Orlando Pirates sign SuperSport striker Kermit Erasmus . Orlando Pirates . 23 July 2013. 15 March 2016.
  13. Web site: Ernst. Fakude. OKermit Erasmus can't play in CAF Champions League . KickOff . 31 July 2013. 16 March 2016.
  14. Web site: Erasmus hat-trick helps Pirates advance in Confederation Cup . BBC . 3 May 2015. 16 March 2016.
  15. Web site: Pirates win Nedbank Cup . Supersport . 17 May 2014. 15 March 2016.
  16. Web site: Erasmus earns place in Africa XI bench. Orlando Pirates . 8 January 2016. 15 March 2016.
  17. Web site: Bucs Duo for Top CAF Award. Orlando Pirates . 8 November 2015. 15 March 2016.
  18. Web site: Bucs earn draw after amazing comeback. Orlando Pirates . 16 January 2016. 15 March 2016.
  19. Web site: Kermit Erasmus: South African striker joins French side Rennes. BBC . 15 March 2016. 14 March 2016.
  20. Web site: Former Orlando Pirates striker Kermit Erasmus makes Rennes debut. KickOff . 14 March 2016. 14 March 2016.
  21. Web site: Erasmus' Rennes Finish Eighth. Soccer Laduma. 14 May 2016. 19 May 2016. 6 July 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180706162015/https://www.soccerladuma.co.za/news/articles/categories/players-abroad/south-african-players-abroad-280/230699. dead.
  22. News: Kermit Erasmus makes substitute appearance as Rennes suffer opening defeat. KickOff. 14 August 2016. 15 August 2016.
  23. Web site: Kermit Erasmus loaned from Rennes to Lens. Kick Off. 21 January 2017. 27 January 2017. 1 April 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190401192304/http://www.kickoff.com/news/72388/kermit-erasmus-loaned-from-rennes-to-lens. dead.
  24. News: Erasmus Says Goodbye To Lens. Soccer Laduma. 22 May 2017. 14 December 2018.
  25. Web site: French Ligue 1 club Rennes terminate Bafana Bafana striker Kermit Erasmus' contract. Goal. Ditlhobolo. Austin. 8 February 2018. 12 February 2018.
  26. Web site: Landslagsmeriterad anfallare klar för AFC Eskilstuna. AFC Eskilstuna. 26 March 2018. 1 September 2018. Swedish. 12 April 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210412190508/https://www.afc-eskilstuna.se/2018/03/26/pressmeddelande-landslagsmeriterad-anfallare-klar-for-afc-eskilstuna/. dead.
  27. Web site: Kermit Erasmus lämnar AFC. AFC Eskilstuna. 17 August 2018. 1 September 2018. Swedish. 1 September 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180901215700/https://www.afc-eskilstuna.se/2018/08/17/kermit-erasmus-lamnar-afc/. dead.
  28. Web site: Kermit Erasmus: Why Cape Town City was the right move for me . Goal. 14 December 2021.
  29. News: Marc. Strydom. It was a mistake to come back home. Sunday World. 4 June 2012. 15 March 2016.
  30. Web site: Clyde. Tlou. South Africa 2-0 Niger: Steven Pienaar inspires Bafana to easy win . Goal . 4 September 2010. 15 March 2016.
  31. Web site: Ryan. Cooper. South Africa Botswana 2014 World Cup qualifier. Kickoff . 7 September 2013. 15 March 2016.
  32. News: About The Film. Soka Afrika. 16 March 2016. January 2012. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20130108185931/http://www.sokaafrika.com/about-the-film/. 8 January 2013.
  33. Web site: name=Erasmus, Kermit . National-Football-Teams.com . 16 March 2016.