Reiger Park footballer Shandre Campbell was part of SuperSport United (SSU) Academy’s victory at the u-18 Ekurhuleni Youth Tournament, which took place over Easter weekend at Germiston Stadium.
The football jamboree, which consisted of 16 teams, saw Campbell (15) and United win all their games and top their group A before going all the way to lift the trophy after defeating Kathorus Hyper 1-0 in the final.
United met Sjabulile FC in the quarter-final and one goal was enough to progress to the last four after a 1-0 victory.
This put United in a collision course with home outfit Germiston Arcadia FC but not even home-ground advantage could save Arcadia. A goal in either side of the half-time break handed United a convincing 2-0 win to earn themselves the right to face Hyper in the tournament decider.
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Campbell’s teammate, Ryan Meining, buried the decisive penalty in the final during regulation time to seal a perfect outing for Campbell and co.
The meeting also gave the Reiger Park youngster, who was the youngest in the winning squad, the opportunity to showcase his skills in front of the likes of former Bafana Bafana stopper Andre Arendse and United’s PSL coach Kaitano Tembo, who were in attendance.
The youngster thanked his coaches, Roscoe Krieling and Thumelo Mdaba, for the opportunity and added that he showed that he can match the higher tempo which his seniors play in.
Campbell usually plies his trade for United’s u-17 side in Safa’s Gauteng Development League and has won league honours under the tutelage of Krieling and Mdaba.
The tournament was organised by the Ekurhuleni municipality.
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