Heracles forward Tristan van Gilst open to playing for Bafana Bafana
Heracles forward Tristan van Gilst, in strong form in the Netherlands, says he is eligible for a South African passport and would be honoured to play for Bafana Bafana.
Dutch-based forward Tristan van Gilst has said it would be an honour to represent Bafana Bafana, as his goalscoring form for Heracles continues to attract attention. The 23-year-old shared his thoughts in an interview with iDiski Times.
Strong form in the Eerste Divisie
Van Gilst plays in a second striker, or number ten, role for Heracles. The club are top of the Eerste Divisie and are aiming for immediate promotion back to the Dutch top flight. According to iDiski Times, they lead the table by five points over second-placed VVV.
The forward has scored 11 goals and set up three more in the first 14 league games of the season. That makes him an early contender for Player of the Season, the outlet said. He is third in the Golden Boot race after a hat-trick in last weekend’s 5-1 win over Roda JC.
The route to a South African passport
Van Gilst said he has not yet spoken to the South African Football Association (SAFA). He explained that he checked his paperwork and found that his birth has been confirmed and registered in South Africa, which makes him eligible for a South African passport. He now plans to ask the federation for it.
He added that the process should not be difficult if Bafana want it done more quickly. “I’m eligible for it,” he said.
Although he was born in the Netherlands, his eligibility comes through his mother, who moved there at the age of 27 to start a family. Van Gilst said he has visited South Africa many times and feels very connected to the country his family comes from. In his words, “it would be really an honour to play for them.”
What happens next
The interview does not mention any response from SAFA or the Bafana Bafana coaching staff, and no call-up has been reported. Van Gilst’s own next step, as he describes it, is to apply to the federation for his South African passport.
For supporters, that means this is still an early expression of interest rather than a confirmed addition to the national setup. His performances for Heracles over the rest of the Eerste Divisie season will show whether the interest grows.
This story is based on reporting by iDiski Times.
