Ex-Pirates star: Rubs shoulders with Benzema at 16, discarded and crying at 33
Orlando Pirates’ new documentary series Bucs Change Room gives fans a raw insight into what goes on behind the scenes at massive PSL clubs.
Released Orlando Pirates star Kermit Erasmus gets emotional
Kermit Erasmus’ segment on the Bucs Change Room showed a side of the 33-year-old that perhaps nobody knew about before. This per Siseko Gwegwe of The South African.
“There is no thank you in a valued way where you can say that he has been looked after for what he has contributed in his life,” Erasmus said on the show, as shared by @DhlomoV via X.
Money sacrifices
“I came to this club, and I sacrificed if you’re speaking about money [Erasmus sheds tears], I sacrificed close to 50% of my salary to come here [from Mamelodi Sundowns in 2023].
“I give everything for this club [Orlando Pirates]. When I arrived, the team was struggling. I’m not saying that I’m an individual who can change everything but with my winning mentality, I can sure contribute to affect things in the right direction. And when I arrived, I believe that’s what I’ve done up until I was not allowed to do that anymore, which was obviously the beginning of this year. I just feel that there is no respect in the way things have went, more so in the way I have done things for my career and for this club.
“I’m not saying the club has not done anything for me,” the former Orlando Pirates star continued.
“I’m speaking about me as an individual playing football in the country. I can speak a lot on past players. I like to speak a lot about colour also, I don’t want to be a racist about it or anything, but I know that I am coloured. I’ve seen it happen to past players before. I make an example of Daine Klate [former Orlando Pirates winger]. One of the most decorated coloured players in this country. But where is the acknowledgement in the industry of football for what he has contributed? One of the most decorated players for Orlando Pirates. But he is not recognised,” Erasmus concluded.
Orlando Pirates striker Kermit Erasmus. Photo: iDiski Times
Kermit was once a future global star
World Soccer Magazine named Erasmus one of the 50 most talented young players in world football. Check out their piece titled “The 50 most exciting teenagers on the planet” in 2007. That list included Karim Benzema, Sergio Aguero, Angel Di Maria, Gareth Bale and Alexandre Pato. Kermit has represented 11 clubs across five countries throughout his career. That’s impressive, in a way, but also indicates that he never quite settled and called one club home for an extended spell. His transfer value peaked in 2016 when he was with Rennes in France’s Ligue 1, and it’s been a steady decline.
SOUTH AFRICAN STORY SET FOR A NEW CHAPTER?
The seasoned striker has spent stints in France, Portugal and the Netherlands before settling back into South African football in 2019. When he leaves Pirates at the end of the campaign, there won’t be a shortage of suitors to bring him on board. Where will he end up? There’s still plenty of value left in those old legs.