COMMENT | An open letter to PSL legend Kermit Erasmus: It's time to hang up your boots

Dear Kermit Erasmus

You have entertained football supporters across the country for almost two decades. You’ve had a great career.

We enjoyed watching you terrorise defenders in the black and white of Ezimnyama Ngenkani ezikaMagebula, and your time thrilling the Yellow Nation of Mamelodi Sundowns was magical. Oh, and we also loved your two-year stint in the Mother City in the colours of Cape Town City.

Throughout your career, you were one of the most likeable players. The fight in you after losing a ball, or the way you celebrated goals was what made South African football fun to watch. The brace you scored for Pirates in the 3-0 win against Sundowns at Loftus 11 years ago was one of those highlights. It's no wonder that they themselves recruited you.

On the international stage, you could have done more. In 15 games for the national team, you found the back of the net just twice. But we know that Bafana Bafana were not at their best during the peak of your career.

But, your career has been painful to watch for the last couple of years. You’ve lost that spark and you don’t look like you’re enjoying yourself. And since your second stint with Pirates came to an end, we expected you’d call it quits. This is not the way we want to remember you.

We expected to enjoy the video montages as we celebrated your career, but instead, we’ve followed stories of you struggling to come to grips with the reality that at some point, a career should end.

It’s never nice seeing a player we’ve enjoyed so much over the years struggling to keep their career going, but that’s where we are right now. You’ve been turned down by Cape Town City, as well as a number of clubs in Gauteng. And after weeks training with Chippa United, who are situated in your hometown of Gqeberha, they still haven’t offered you a deal.

The writing’s on the wall. It’s about time you hung up your boots.

You have had a great career that many can only dream of. You've won numerous medals, and thrilled fans everywhere. Perhaps now it's time to pass on your knowledge to the next generation.

IOL Sport

* The views expressed are not necessarily the views of IOL or Independent Media.

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