The teenager has been hitting all the right buttons in his career which has seen him move overseas.
South African sensation Shandre Campbell will excel abroad more than former Bafana Bafana internationals Benni McCarthy and Steven Pienaar, according to SuperSport United CEO Stan Matthews.
The 18-year-old made a statement for the Swanky Boys in the 2023/24 Premier Soccer League season. The teenager played a total of 30 games in all competitions for Matsatsantsa with a return of five goals and six assists.
The Belgian outfit Club Brugge were interested in the services of the youngster who will now ply trade abroad.
Campbell can surpass McCarthy & Pienaar – Matthews claims
Former South Africa striker McCarthy is arguably the most ever successful player from Mzansi to have played in Europe. Apart from winning the 2003/04 Uefa Champions League, the immediate ex-Manchester United strikers' coach won domestic leagues in the Netherlands and Portugal. The 46-year-old further won the 2000 Uefa Intertoto Cup with Celta.
Pienaar also won two Eredivisie titles as well as domestic Cups in both the Netherlands and England. Matthews believes Campbel will end up doing better than the aforementioned duo.
“My message to him has been the same since he was 15 years old,” the administrator told SuperSport United media department.
“He is a beautiful kid with an amazing disposition, he is very respectful and humble. Everything you’d want to see in a human being, Shandre has it.
“My relationship with him has been very close in terms of keeping his eye on the ball and me saying ‘you will play in the English Premier League and you will be the best South African player that has played in the premier league’ and I believe this.
“Steven Pienaar and Benni McCarthy were probably the last two standout South African performers in the premier league but I think Shandre can surpass both of them. He knows that’s my vision for him.”
Campbell, who signed a three-year contract, will start at Club Brugge’s second-string side and is set to feature in the Challenger Pro League, the country’s second tier next season.
