10/07/2026
WoW...time really flies...Throwback to some history during Keet's earlier career and International Appearances for Bafana Bafana ⚽️ 🇿🇦
CAPE ARGUS
14 September 2014
The SA national football squad, so long dismissive of the Mother City, appears to have
developed an affinity for the shadow of Table Mountain.
Not only are Bafana Bafana eager to play in front of the boisterous Cape Town support, but
players from the region have been fast-tracked into the national squad. There was much
delight when three Ajax Cape Town stars - Keagan Dolly, Ayabulela Magqwaka and Rivaldo
Coetzee - were included in the Bafana squad to face Sudan and Nigeria in African Cup of
Nations qualifiers.
And yet it would seem that many had not realised there was another Capetonian, born and
bred, in the squad - goalkeeper Darren Keet.
Keet has had a sensational rise to prominence and his past association in the junior national
squads under Shakes Mashaba means the new Bafana coach knows him well.
Now 25 years old, Keet is originally from Ruyterwacht, but the family moved to Bothasig
when he was 16. He attended De Waveren Primary in Ruyterwacht, spent two years at JG
Meiring High in Goodwood, and completed his schooling at Edgemead High School.
Keet started his football career at Bothasig, where he was from under-7 to under-11. He then
joined the Ajax academy and spent three years with the Parow club before being told he
wasn't good enough.
But, true to character, the youngster wasn't prepared to accept defeat. He joined Edgemead at
under-15 level, which is where he met former Hellenic and Santos striker Shawn Bester.
Bester, who today is Keet's agent, was impressed with the goalkeeper's technique, ability and
desire to succeed. He took the kid under his wing and plotted his career.
At the age of 16, when Bester was coach of Bothasig's senior team, Keet was thrown into the deep end at a higher level. He was brilliant.
At the same time, Roger de Sa was at Santos, and Bester asked the coach if Keet could train
there after school. De Sa was impressed with young goalkeeper and wanted to sign him, but
Bester was adamant that Keet first finish school before taking the plunge in the PSL.
By the age of 18, Keet joined Vasco da Gama in the Second Division, where his game
continued to progress. By this time, De Sa had moved on to Wits. The coach remembered
Keet and was keen to bring the lad to Joburg.
Keet spent three seasons at Wits, where he quickly established himself as one of the best
young goalkeepers in the country. By this time, overseas scouts had been alerted - and, when
an opportunity arrived to sign for Belgian side KV Kortrijk, Bester and Keet jumped at the
chance.
In Belgium, Keet was the Kortrijk's Player of the Year in just his second season there.
Now, in his fourth season in Europe, Keet is a seasoned campaigner and he's determined to
continue his upward curve, while at the same hoping to ensure that he stays in the thoughts of
the Bafana selectors.
"The one thing about playing in Belgium is that it has made me stronger as a goalkeeper,"
said Keet. "If I compare football in Europe to the PSL, the one big difference is that players
are physically stronger. As such, I've become used to the knocks expected when dealing with
crosses. It's made me a stronger, better player.
"Also, in the PSL it's about skill and technique. In this aspect, it's a lot better than in
Belgium. But in Europe the organisation is better. Teams are a lot more tactically aware and a
great deal of importance is attached to shape and defence. The priority is always not to
concede, it's something worked at every day during training sessions."
Keet says it took a while for him to adapt to the new lifestyle when he first moved to Belgium.
"Being used to Cape Town and Joburg, it was quite different when I came to Belgium," he
said. "The food, the people, it's all different. In the Cape, it's about relaxing, the beach, and
you tend to always have your own space. In Belgium, everything is close together, people
live in apartments and sometimes you miss the space you live with in the Mother City."
Keet has one Bafana cap - a friendly against Zimbabwe at Orlando Stadium last year - but
he's hoping to add to that.
"Being overseas always makes it difficult," he said. "Nobody really keeps an eye on you and
they don't see how you perform. They also don't show the Belgian league on television in
South Africa. "But I'm determined to be in the Bafana set-up more. I know Shakes (Mashaba, Bafana head coach) from working with him at under-23 level. And he knows me and what I can offer.My game has improved since I left South Africa and I want to continue that progress."
Keet's family, and Bester, have played an influential role in supporting his career. His mom and dad have already been over to Belgium to visit and they are due for a trip in January again.
"My wife's having our first baby, so my mom and dad are coming over in January to celebrate," said Keet.
The Cape has always had a reputation for producing top-class goalkeepers. The names that
spring to mind include Trevor Daniels, Andre Arendse, Phillip Luiters, John Goodwin,
Patrick Wasmuth, Isaac Ampo, Emile Baron, Wayne Roberts, Moeneeb Josephs and many,
many more.
Keet is an extension of that tradition. He's still a young man, so it can be expected that the
Mother City will certainly be hearing lot more about this home-grown product.
