AYANDA Patosi is negotiating an extension of his contract at Lokeren and is in a strong position, considering the potential that the Belgian club sees in the teenager from Khayelitsha.

Patosi is in only his second season overseas but has now established himself as a first-team regular and is regarded as one of the leading young talents in the Belgian league.

A measure of his increasing reputation means there is now a renegotiation of his deal with an offer of a much better salary and a longer deal at the club, who now see Patosi as the subject of a potentially lucrative sale in a season or two. It has been a dream "rags to riches" story for Patosi, who will be 20 next month. He was the star of the Easter tournament in Cape Town two years ago and moved from the African Soccer Development academy to Belgium a few months later.

He was one of a batch of youngsters from ASD given a chance in Belgium but the only one who is still there more than a year later.

Patosi has not missed much action for Lokeren this season, having been a cup final substitute last May as the provincial club won their first major trophy in decades.

This season he has already made seven starts for Lokeren, who lie midway in the Belgian league.