Ramatsiyi Moholoa

Ramatsiyi Moholoa

Bafana Bafana coach Carlos Alberto Parreira has described Kermit Erasmus as one of South Africa's most promising youngsters.

Erasmus plays for Absa Premiership log leaders SuperSport United, where he settled down quickly after being promoted from their academy early in the season.

Parreira said he was not going to rush the talented Port Elizabeth-born player into the senior national team.

Erasmus got his first call-up for the senior team when Bafana Bafana beat Zimbabwe 2-1 in a friendly in Germiston last month but did not play.

"He's still a youngster and we do not want to destroy him. We will introduce him gradually. We have to help him gain confidence," said Parreira.

"As coaches it is part of our duty to guide and help the players, see to it that they get enough chance to settle down. Kermit is showing some great talent and, as a technical team, we are impressed.

"I read a copy of the World Football Magazine in which they featured the boy. The magazine ran an article on the best 20 youngsters in the world and Kermit was one of them, which is great news for South Africa."

Erasmus shot to prominence when coach Serame Letsoaka selected him to play for Majimbos after he made an impression in a warm-up game against SuperSport academy.

"I feel proud that Kermit is now an asset to the country, one of the youngsters likely to set the 2010 World Cup alight," said Letsoaka.

Erasmus is on his way to Holland next season to join Feyernoord.