Club Brugge coach raves about Shandre Campbell

Nicky Hayen, the head coach of Club Brugge, praised South African star Shandre Campbell after his game-winning performance against Zulte Waregem on Saturday.

Coming off the bench in the 82nd minute, the 20-year-old Campbell made an immediate impact, scoring a stunning long-range goal just before the final whistle to secure a 1-0 victory. The goal was his first for the senior Club Brugge side, a major milestone since his promotion from the reserves after moving from SuperSport United, who sold their PSL status to Siwelele FC.

Hayen acknowledged the difficult challenge posed by Zulte Waregem’s defence but explained that he brought on Campbell for his unique skill set.

“We knew Zulte Waregem would build on their performance from last week against Anderlecht… they did so in a low block,” Hayen said. “We opted for Campbell because he has an individual touch in his legs. He kicks the ball in fantastically.”

The coach admitted that the team’s overall performance wasn’t what he had envisioned, but emphasised the importance of securing points. He also noted that the team’s level needs to improve in the coming months.

Meanwhile, Brandon Mechele, a teammate of Campbell, was also full of praise, calling the team “lucky” to have him.

“We were lucky that Campbell’s shot deflected a bit, but we know from training that he has that kind of leg,” Mechele said. He added that while the team still has work to do, particularly with accuracy and tempo, they are improving and gaining confidence for their upcoming match against Rangers.

With this win, Club Brugge now sits second in the Belgian Pro League table with nine points from three matches, just one point behind leaders Royale Union Saint-Gilloise.