Former Orlando Pirates captain Lucky Lekgwathi has explained why Kermit Erasmus is so important to the Buccaneers, saying he had a bigger impact than just his efforts on the pitch.
Erasmus re-joined Pirates in September last year from Mamelodi Sundowns and he was a big influence in helping Pirates finish second in the DStv Premiership and winning the MTN8 and Nedbank Cup trophies.
Lekgwathi spoke to iDiski Times writer Lethabo Kganyago in edition 107 of the newspaper about Erasmus’ impact at the club, saying he has helped younger players like Terrence Dzvukamanja to shine.
“He brought depth into the team because the team needed a balance of senior players and youngsters and we needed someone like Kermit,” Lekgwathi told iDiski Times.
“If you look at the striking department, all of them, they were young or inexperienced. You look at [Zakhele] Lepasa, young, coming from TS Galaxy, but he lacked the experience of playing for a big team like Orlando Pirates. They needed someone to guide him. I think Kermit guided them very well.
“Look at [Terrence] Dzvukamanja, he is bending goals and Kermit is complimenting him doing all this hard work.
“If it’s the two of them people won’t look at him, they will look at Kermit, the focus will be on Kermit and that is where Dzvukamanja punishes them.
“I was happy to see him getting game-time again and working very hard. This is what we spoke about when I met with him to say we needed someone like him at Pirates.”
You can read Lekgwathi’s full interview with Kganyago in edition 107 of the newspaper on iDiski Times website.