TS Galaxy starlet Ethan Brooks says he does not feel pressured by comparisons to Bafana Bafana great Steven Pienaar.
Pienaar is one of the most decorated South African players of all time, having amassed 214 Premier League appearances during his time with Everton.
Brooks, just 19, is currently with Bafana as they look to win the COSAFA Cup on home soil. He has started both games against Botswana and Lesotho and enhanced his reputation with impressive displays in both matches. However, he is unfazed by being likened to Pienaar.
“How I’m handling the pressure of being compared to the likes of Steven Pienaar, I’m handling it well,” Brooks told the Galaxy media department.
“He was one of the best football players to have come from SA that played here in the country and abroad. I don’t want to put pressure on myself trying to do things he did. I will just be myself and play the way I have been.
“I feel great, enjoying [being] a regular starter at Bafana Bafana. It shows that the coaches have a lot of trust and confidence in me.
“As a player that means a lot and it boosts my confidence as I go game by game. This is a great opportunity for me to go out there and showcase my talent.
“Do I believe we can go all the way? Yes, I do. With the players we have here, I believe we can go all the way. The players in the camp are always capable of putting in hard work and going all the way.”