Stellenbosch star called up for Colombia and Ecuador friendlies

Stellenbosch FC forward Andre de Jong has been named in New Zealand’s 23-man squad for their upcoming international friendlies against Colombia and Ecuador in the United States.

De Jong, 28, returns to the All Whites setup after featuring in last month’s fixtures against Poland and Norway. His inclusion in coach Darren Bazeley’s squad comes on the back of a rich vein of form in domestic and continental competition.

New Zealand will face Colombia in Florida on 16 November, followed by a clash against Ecuador in New Jersey on 19 November. Both matches serve as vital preparation for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be hosted across the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

De Jong's Stellies journey

Since making his international debut against Canada in March 2018, De Jong has earned 11 caps and scored twice for his country. His latest call-up is a reward for his standout performances with Stellenbosch FC, where he has netted three goals in four matches since the last international break.

Among his recent highlights is a match-winning brace against Golden Arrows in the domestic league, as well as a crucial goal in Stellenbosch’s 4-1 aggregate victory over 15 de Agosto de Akonibe in the CAF Confederation Cup.

De Jong joins a growing list of South African-based players making waves on the international stage, as national teams ramp up preparations for global tournaments.

Stelelnbosch have been doing quite well in domestic competitions – where they reached the final of the MTN8 and Carling Knockout quarter-final. Furthermore, they are in the group stage of the CAF Confederation Cup.

However, they are struggling in the Premier Soccer League where they have been straining to get results.