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AT age 18, Daylon Claasen is fast becoming a seasoned traveller whose soccer ambitions are taking him beyond the realms of Ajax Cape Town.

The Dutch capital of Amsterdam is the place where it will happen for Claasen, who takes up a four year contract with the world renowned Ajax Amsterdam club in June.

This will not be Claasen's first trip to Amsterdam. The talented mid-fielder, on the recommendation of Ajax Cape Town, attended trials in Holland last November and December prior to signing professional forms.

Before going on to further his career in June he will head to Amsterdam in May when the local Ajax u/19s take part in the Groenwegen Inter-Club Tournament as well as the Copa Amsterdam Championship from 10 to 12 May and 23 to 25 May respectively.

"Representing Ajax Cape Town in these competitions means a lot to me. Playing against some of the top youth teams from Europe and South America will certainly test our strengths and abilities.

"The tour matches could most likely mark my farewell at Ajax Cape Town," says Claasen, who underlined his potential with a stellar performance for the champion Ajax side at the Metropolitan Premier Cup championship at Belhar over the Easter weekend.

Claasen's good form earned him the Player of the Tournament award at the 20th anniversary of the Premier Cup.

His parents, Ben and Netta from Brackenfell and whom he hails as his mentors, were there to cheer him on. So too was his older brother, Kaylon, a member of the Ajax side in the Vodacom Second Division competition.

Claasen, a member of the Ajax side campaigning in the Absa Premier Soccer League, is not expected to experience much PSL action before leaving for Amsterdam, though.

The Klerksdorp born teenager will follow in the footsteps of Benni McCarthy, Steven Pienaar and Stanton Lewis, whom Ajax had signed from their counterparts in Cape Town in recent years.

Bafana Bafana stars McCarthy and Pienaar are currently on the books of Blackburn Rovers and Everton in the English FA Premier League, while Claasen is set to team up with Lewis in the Ajax reserve team when the European season gets under way in July.

Claasen admits things have happened a bit fast for him and he is aware he needs to get used to Ajax's style of play before being considered for the senior team.

"I am also in no real hurry to win Bafana Bafana colours. At this stage of my career I am keen to become a regular in the national u/23 side," says Claasen, whose travels  with the SA u/17s have taken him took to Egypt, Zimbabwe, Senegal and Togo.

Ajax's  current  u/19  coach, Roger Links, a Bafana Bafana defender in the 1990s,  shares  Claasen?s  outlook  on  his future.

"Daylon is an exciting player to watch. He makes playing soccer look so easy.

"He has the right attitude and I am sure he will succeed," says Links, who is anxiously awaiting his u/19 team's forthcoming visit to Holland.

Ajax placed third in the Coca Amsterdam Championship in 2007 and their opponents this time around include Juventus (Italy), Benfica (Portugal), Cruzeiro (Brazil) and Az Alkmaar and hosts Ajax Amsterdam (both Holland).

The tour will not only provide an acid test for Claasen, but indeed have an influence on the careers of Ajax team mates Shameehg Doutie, Andile Mbenyane, Cole Alexander and Thulani Hlathswayo.

Claasen's rise to prominence is similar to the progress made by the Wesbury born Pienaar, another former ?Vaalie? whose career took a positive turn after he was recruited by Ajax.

Another point of interest that suggests Claasen is of good soccer stock is the fact that his uncle Brandon Silent made the headlines with Orlando Pirates and Bafana Bafana during the 1990s.

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