Back-to-back Olympic Games qualifiers at Lucas Moripe Stadium

Brought back from Bafana Bafana to join the SA U-23 squad, Shandre Campbell says he is more than happy to play a senior role in the team’s 2028 Olympic Games qualifiers against Madagascar on Saturday and Tuesday at Lucas Moripe Stadium in Atteridgeville.

The move follows consultations between Bafana coach Pitso Mosimane and SA U-23 mentor Raymond Mdaka.

The U-23s are currently in camp in Pretoria finalising their preparations for the Madagascar matches. Both games are being played in SA because none of Madagascar’s home stadiums meet Fifa standards.

“Coach Pitso called me,” Campbell told the media on Wednesday. “He strongly believes in me, and said he wants me to help the U-23 team as a senior player.

“I said I would do anything for the nation. The U-23s have been my team since Cosafa, so I know everyone very well.”

The 21-year-old winger said he hoped his experience with the senior team would rub off on his teammates, but insisted he was “not bigger than anyone else”.

“In the first team I had Thapelo Maseko, Luther Singh, Tashreeq [Matthews] and Oswin Appollis, and I always try to learn from them,” he said. “Coming from Bafana Bafana, I will just try and carry what I have learnt, and try to adapt to the team.”

Campbell moved from Club Brugge to KV Kortrijk in Belgium in July on a four-year deal.

“As a footballer, you need to be happy in life — no matter what is happening. Club Brugge was good to me. But I didn’t get game time, so I looked for an option where I could play.

“Kortrijk luckily came up. I love them and they took me in as one of their own and life is good there.”