South African forward Tristan van Gilst is making a strong impression in the Netherlands after an excellent start to the 2026/27 season, with his performances raising hopes that he could soon become an option for Bafana Bafana.

The 23-year-old striker has been in outstanding form for Heracles, scoring 11 goals and providing three assists in his opening 14 matches of the campaign. His impressive contribution in front of goal has made him one of the players attracting attention in the Netherlands.

Van Gilst recently produced another memorable performance when he scored a hat-trick in Heracles’ 5-1 victory over Roda JC before the international break. His goalscoring form has also helped the club move into a strong position in the Eerste Divisie, where they currently sit at the top of the standings, six points clear of their closest challengers.

The Amsterdam-born forward previously played for De Graafschap, PEC Zwolle and AFC Amsterdam during his development and early professional career. He made his first appearance in the Eredivisie during the 2025/26 season and is now pushing for another opportunity to compete at the highest level of Dutch football.

However, his performances are not the only reason South African football supporters should keep an eye on him. Van Gilst is also eligible to represent Bafana Bafana through his mother, who was born in South Africa.

Speaking exclusively to iDiski Times, the forward explained his family connection to the country and how his South African background has remained an important part of his life.

He revealed that his mother met his father in South Africa when she was 27 before they eventually decided to settle in the Netherlands. Although he was born and raised in Amsterdam, he grew up speaking both English and Dutch.

Van Gilst explained that his mother made an effort to teach him English from a young age, something he appreciates because it has helped him maintain a connection with his South African roots.

He also recalled visiting South Africa regularly during his childhood, particularly between the ages of five and 15, when his family would travel to spend time with relatives on his mother's side.

The Heracles attacker admitted that representing Bafana Bafana was not always something he actively considered, as his main priority was establishing himself as a professional footballer and reaching the required level at club level.

However, conversations within his family about the possibility of playing for South Africa gradually changed his thinking.

He explained that his grandmother and uncles had received messages from people asking whether he would consider representing Bafana Bafana. Those conversations eventually sparked something in him and made him take the possibility more seriously.

Van Gilst admitted that although he had always known he was eligible to represent South Africa, the interest from his family made him realise how much he wanted the opportunity.

For the young forward, receiving a national team call-up would be a great honour, but he understands that his performances on the pitch will be important in making that ambition a reality.

His immediate focus is therefore on maintaining his impressive scoring record, helping Heracles achieve promotion and continuing to develop as a player.

With 11 goals and three assists already recorded in 14 matches, Van Gilst is giving Bafana Bafana supporters another South African-eligible talent to follow in European football. If he maintains this level of performance, his ambition of representing the country could become an important storyline for the national team in the coming months.

Source: IDiskiTimes