Campbell urges South African talent to consider Belgium as European springboard

South Africa striker Shandre Campbell believes the Belgian Pro League can provide an effective pathway for young players seeking to establish themselves in European football.

The 21-year-old is one of the senior figures in the South African Under-23 squad preparing for a two-legged AFCON/Olympic Games qualifying tie against Madagascar during the current international window.

Campbell has gained experience in Belgium after moving from SuperSport United, spending time with Club Brugge and Kortrijk. He says the league’s emphasis on developing young players could make it an attractive destination for more South Africans.

“Belgium is a very development ground, especially if you are looking to develop, because as you know I think it’s the youngest league in the top leagues in Europe, the average age is like 23,” Campbell told journalists before a training session at the University of Pretoria.

“I think South Africans we have very talented players they can go abroad and play anywhere but I think Belgium can be a good place for South African talent and go out to one of the top five leagues in the world.”

His comments come as compatriot Relebohile Mofokeng continues to make an impression at Union Saint-Gilloise, giving Campbell a further example of a South African player developing in Belgium.

Learning from Bafana Bafana experience

Campbell was part of the senior Bafana Bafana squad during the previous FIFA international window, which included a friendly against Egypt.

The Johannesburg-born forward said senior internationals had helped him adapt to the demands of the national team, while he had made a point of learning from the experience of his older team-mates.

“Of course in the first team I had Thapelo Maseko, I had Luther (Singh), I had Tashreeq (Matthews), I had Oswin (Appollis), I always try to learn from them, Ronza (Ronwen Williams) also. I always try to take information and learn from them,” Campbell said.

Although he has brought that experience into the Under-23 camp, Campbell rejected any suggestion that he sees himself as more important than the other players in the squad.

He said his priority was to adapt what he had learned with Bafana Bafana to the Under-23 environment and make a contribution alongside his team-mates.

“So I think coming down from Bafana to the U23 team, I just try to see what I have and try to adapt it to the U23. But I’m no bigger than anyone here. I’m the same as everyone else,” the 21-year-old added.