While many of SA's exports to Europe have struggled for game time, and others have returned home after failing to make the breakthrough, five of the seven in Belgium have been playing regularly and performing well for their clubs.

In a league match between Lokeren and Lierse last weekend, four South Africans took the field. And it was 19-year-old Patosi who outshone Lierse's three Bafana Bafana internationals - Daylon Claasen, Siboniso Gaxa and Lance Davids - coming on in the second half to inspire two decisive goals.

"He came on and changed the game, and they beat us 2-0," Claasen said. "I see a bright future for him."

Patosi laughs when asked about the win.

"Before the second half started, Claasen told me: 'Hey, please Patosi, don't kill us'. And I was like: 'Ja, you also don't kill us, I know you are a good player'. But we ended up winning 2-0.

"That was great, to play against those three Bafana Bafana players."

Patosi is in his first season in Europe, having been signed from the ASD Cape Town (Africa Soccer Developments) academy after a tour of Belgium in May.

He earned headlines with a chipped goal from an impossible angle in a 3-1 win over Anele Ngcongca's defending champions Racing Genk in October, though the youngster is refreshingly honest about his intentions with the strike. "I was trying to put the ball behind the keeper for a player at the far post," he admits.

The playmaker scored a second earlier this month as Lokeren beat Gent in the domestic cup quarterfinals. On Wednesday night, he got a second league start against Jupiler League giants Club Brugge.

Patosi says Bafana right back Ngcongca has taken him under his wing in Belgium, and the two often meet up.

"His team is big here and they are big players. A lot of people walk up and ask for autographs from Anele."

The youngster from Khayelitsha set his sights on Europe after joining ASD, the academy of UK-based businessman Mike Steptoe. "Before that, I thought of playing for PSL teams - Orlando Pirates, Kaizer Chiefs or Ajax Cape Town.

"After I joined the academy, I started to think of playing in Europe. The coaches taught us the quick European style and educated us on European life."

Claasen has also had a successful first half of the season, reportedly attracting interest from Premiership side Queens Park Rangers. He says Belgium is a good springboard for South Africans to the bigger European leagues. "Belgium is not as physical as most leagues and a nice place to get that confidence."

Patosi's young teammate, Ebrahim Seedat, also from ASD, and under-23 goalkeeper Darren Keet are the only two South Africans struggling for game time in Belgium. Keet says he's willing to bide his time to displace in-form Kristof van Hout, having signed a four-year contract with KV Kortrijk in July.