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Lars Veldwijk towers over everyone in the Bafana Bafana camp and his clustered tattoos also make him stick out from the group.
At 1.96m, he is even taller than the team’s assistant coach, Molefi Ntseki, and the goalkeeper trainer, Andre Arendse.
But Veldwijk (27) remains the least-known member of South Africa’s squad doing duty at the Afcon in Egypt.
He says every call-up to Bafana brings him closer to his roots because the only time he sets foot in South Africa is via the national team’s camps.
“I was born in Holland, but my dad is a South African from Benoni in Johannesburg. He lived there in his youth and went to Holland when he was young,” Veldwijk told City Press at the team’s hotel this week.
“So I don’t have family here. Some went to Holland and some have passed away.”
Veldwijk plans to come back to explore the country one day.
Veldwijk, who turns out for Sparta Rotterdam in the Dutch second division, is back in Bafana almost two and a half years since his last call-up by then coach Shakes Mashaba.
His 24 goals in 41 games across all competitions in the Keuken Kampioen Divisie earned him a recall during South Africa’s final Afcon qualifier against Libya in March.
Although he came in as a last-minute substitute in the 2-1 win in Tunisia, he retained his place to make the 23-member Afcon squad.
“I love it in Africa. I like the continent and different cultures. The weather is good in summer, but I need a day or two to get used to the heat.
“Everywhere I have been in Africa, the people are friendly,” said the father of two.
Veldwijk enjoys being part of a diverse Bafana team that reflects South Africa’s demographics. At times, he speaks in Dutch to Holland-based Thulani Serero and Kamohelo Mokotjo, who played in Holland before moving to England.
“I’m still fascinated by the many languages spoken in South Africa. It’s always nice to be here. But I’m happy that everybody speaks English in camp, although Afrikaans is a bit similar to my language,” said Veldwijk, who shares a room in camp with goalkeeper Ronwen Williams.
Veldwijk said his many tattoos often give others the wrong impression about his personality.
“Just because I’m big and full of tattoos, people think I’m a difficult person. Only after they get used to me they say, ‘he is a nice person who is always smiling’,” he said with a chuckle.
He said he and Williams got along well because they had the same characteristics.
“Ronwen and I were roommates in Tunis when we qualified for Afcon and it’s good we are together again. He is a relaxed person and I’m also quite relaxed, but we have interesting conversations now and then.”
The SuperSport United goalie is one of the PSL-based players schooling Veldwijk in the local game and clubs.
“They share stories about the PSL. I think it’s a very good league in Africa with some good clubs like Kaizer Chiefs, Mamelodi Sundowns and Orlando Pirates.
“The PSL is not on television in Holland, but I always look for the results. It is the best league in Africa.”
Veldwijk also rates his striking partner Percy Tau highly.
“Percy Tau is one of the best players I have ever trained with. He has unbelievable skill and pace.”
Like the rest of his team-mates, Veldwijk spends most of his time holed up indoors at the team’s hotel in Egypt when they are not training.
The daily routine starts with breakfast, then there’s lunch and training – or the team will be in Cairo for their matches at the Al-Salam Stadium.
“It’s a bit boring sometimes because days are long and we are not allowed to go out of the hotel, so we kill time by watching Netflix. We also play a game of cards or the PlayStation.”
At the end of our interview, I asked Veldwijk if he had a nickname.
“No, just Lars. Or do you want to give me one?”
I suggested Malankane, township parlance for a tall person.
“Yeah, that’s good. You can call me that,” he said with a wink.
