Duan Jansen looks to carve own Proteas path after maiden call-up

Duan Jansen looks to carve own Proteas path after maiden call-up

Titans all-rounder Duan Jansen says he’s ready to prove that he belongs to the big stage, and will not be living in the shadow of his identical twin brother Marco.

While the other Jansen made his international debut five years ago, Duan only recently received his maiden call-up to the national team ahead of the tri-series against Zimbabwe and Namibia starting in Windhoek tomorrow. 

He says there’s a lot of similarities besides the obvious ones between him and his brother, but also each one of them can do what’s necessary for the team on each given day.

"That's my brother, we’re exactly the same, it just comes down to performance on the team but I think if you look at him on a broader spectrum, we can do exactly the same job,” Jansen said.  

Even though we are two different people, he's done a lot of things for the Proteas, I'm starting my journey so I still have to show IT on this stage but I'm here for a reason and I’m here for a certain type of goal and I’m gonna reach that goal. If I have to show the world that I belong here then I'm gonna do that."

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Jansen revealed that their long-time dream is to play for South Africa at the same time one day, but knows it’ll be a difficult feat to achieve. He believes through hard work and consistency they’ll be able to each contribute to the team in their own way.

"Our personal goal is to play together for the Proteas but we know as well it's not gonna be that easy, so if it means we have to come in and out for each other, that's fine but I think if we do the right things for a longer period of time, I think that chance for us to play together for our country is gonna be better than not,” he added. 

“I think still we have to walk our own way in that sense where I have to do a job, he has to do his job and if it aligns in that way then we're both gonna be happy."