I second the call about Cartagena. I did 6 weeks solo in Colombia in 2018 and loved it. It's impressive how much it's turned itself around. Only time I felt nervous was when walking past a police station and the police insisted I step inside. They didn't speak English and I didn't speak Spanish. They then got on google translate and told me to take a taxi elsewhere as it wasn't a safe neighbourhood for a foreigner.
Well done Adj! Wow! What a result. European and MLS scouts would have been at this game to watch players in both teams. With an average age of approx 24, the Stellenbosch players are in high demand (most especially from PSL big 3) Adj stats improving big time. What a season. Caf champions league (1st and 2nd) is a possibility and that will bring a nice fat bonus for Adj
Amazingly, the Diski Challenge League (which is the PSL u21 reserve league) has Mamelodi Sundowns, Stellenbosch and Orlando Pirates in the top 3 also. These teams are definitely doing something right. Lol
Some European leagues (eg Eredivisie) have restrictions on players outside of the EU but not all.
It's definitely the offers MLS is prepared to pay PSL clubs for players. Also players are more prepared to go because it's an English speaking country. Logistically it's just easier compared to other countries on the continent ( for scouts).
Mls scouts are mostly in South Africa because of the standard of the league (and players are generally cheaper than the South American market) and the league is a hub for quality African players.
Another big reason is that over the last few years the average age of most of the PSl teams ( except Mamelodi Sundowns and Orlando pirates) has gone down. Its now very common to see 3 or 4 under 23 players in the 1st team.
European teams (incl EPL) have their scouts targeting the PSL reserve league (under 21 league). There have been a number of targets and offers. The problem is that PSL teams are not prepared to sell these players because they know the offer will be lower than a developed ( playing in 1st team) player. coochiee
Yes seems to be quite a few South Africans in the MLS for whatever reason. Easier to get a work permit than Europe?
coochiee
Yes seems to be quite a few South Africans in the MLS for whatever reason. Easier to get a work permit than Europe?
It's an amazing achievement. Stellenbosch isn't your classic PSL small club though. It's owners ( through his charity foundation) are billionaire Johann Rupert, one of the richest families on the continent. He and his family are the majority shareholders and founders of Richemont, the luxury goods empire. Below is a few brands under the Richemont group: Alaïa, AZ Factory, Baume & Mercier, Buccellati, Cartier, Chloé, Delvaux, Dunhill, IWC Schaffhausen, Jaeger-LeCoultre, Montblanc, Mr Porter, Net-a-Porter, Panerai, Piaget, Peter Millar, Purdey, Roger Dubuis, Serapian, The Outnet, TimeVallée, Vacheron Constantin, Van Cleef & Arpels etc, etc etc.
So yes they run the club on a budget but behind the scenes is a well run machine, with top people in charge.
Forget what I just said above. I'm talking out of my.......Stellenbosch are a small club with a great management team and are having an awesome season. We'll done.
coochiee
Undefeated in 21 games is some record, for a smaller club. ADJ a more regular starter as their season has gone on.
Stellenbosch are into the Nedbank Cup semis after a 4-0 win vs SuperSport and yeah you bet Andre De Jong got a goal
Is about 4 teams (sides 2nd-5th) chasing the 2nd CAF Champions League spot, but for now Stellenbosch are 4 pts clear of Orlando Pirates in 3rd, with 7 games left.
ADJ the hero (though it happened early 2nd half) with the winning goal in a 2-1 win for Stellies.
They even find some white fans in the Nelspruit stands, to applaud the only white guy on the field. Maybe some Kiwis on a safari at nearby Kruger National Park? Same ground where Smeltz got his toe poke against Italy in 2010 WC.
Stellenbosch keep rocking on. Unbeaten streak is now up to 23 games in all comps. They keep fighting hard to get that 2nd CAF Champions League spot (comes with nice fat cash bonus apparently), with 6 PSL games left. Now got a handy 2 games at home.
Only De Jong's 2nd goal in 19 PSL games this season. But he also has quite a few goals in Cup games.
Andre de Jong’s been at it again, scoring the winner against TS Galaxy
Stellenbosch’s unbeaten streak is now up to 23 games in all comps
ADJ the hero (though it happened early 2nd half) with the winning goal in a 2-1 win for Stellies.
They even find some white fans in the Nelspruit stands, to applaud the only white guy on the field. Maybe some Kiwis on a safari at nearby Kruger National Park? Same ground where Smeltz got his toe poke against Italy in 2010 WC.
Stellenbosch keep rocking on. Unbeaten streak is now up to 23 games in all comps. They keep fighting hard to get that 2nd CAF Champions League spot (comes with nice fat cash bonus apparently), with 6 PSL games left. Now got a handy 2 games at home.
Only De Jong's 2nd goal in 19 PSL games this season. But he also has quite a few goals in Cup games.
Andre de Jong’s been at it again, scoring the winner against TS Galaxy
Stellenbosch’s unbeaten streak is now up to 23 games in all comps
Defending absolutely laughable aka Man utd lol. South Africa has a similar show to " Match of the Day" which will be on today. The show has a most embarrassing moment in the football week called "Moemish of the week". I think we found the moemish lol
Having a season injury free at long last, must have been a big factor, in this being his best season. Might be in line for a recall to the AWs for OFC Nations Cup. Especially if a few are unavailable.
Would like to see how he'd go at ALM level with the Black Knights. But if Stellenbosch get spot in CAF Champions League with it's extra cash, I'm guessing he'll stay there.
From Flying Kiwis. Put simply, this is the best sustained form that De Jong has shown since he’s been in South Africa. Across three different clubs he’s had great games, he’s had great months, but nothing like this where he’s earned his way into a regular starting gig for a team that keeps on winning games of football. Just look at the celebrations for his goal – those teammates love him.
He’s largely playing as an attacking midfielder so nothing crazy with the goal tallies. Also, for whatever reason, much of his work has come in cup ties: he’s actually scored in four different competitions this season. This was his second league goal to go with two assists this season, adding up to seven goals overall.
Here was ADJ speaking a few weeks ago prior to their Nedbank Cup quarter-final victory (in which he scored)...
Andre De Jong: “Naturally, as a team, we have all been in good form, so it’s easier when everyone is pulling together in the right direction. If you have a slightly off day you know one of the other guys will lift you and boost you for that game. I think the fact that the team is doing very well overall, combined with some really good individual performances, makes it easier to stay in form.”
Stellenbosch Bafana striker Iqraam Rayners scores all 5 goals. ADJ with the assist on the 2nd goal. Yes!!
Stellenbosch cement their position at 2nd place in the PSL and now firm favourites for the CAF Champions League. European, PSL Big 3 and MLS teams are circling Stellenbosch's talent (the team average age is about 24years) but with Caf Champions League qualification the top talent might just decide to stay an extra season.
For Adj it's a season to remember. Winning his first Cup Championship and potentially playing in the Caf Champions League next year. Personally I'm sure his really happy with his stats this season. Stellenbosch will also qualify for the Top 6 Cup
This is the best time to ask Adj for a loan 🤣🥳 aka fat bonuses this season and next
Stellenbosch steamrolls the opposition in the PSL and maintains 2nd place on the log after Orlando Pirates won this evening.
Adj started and missed an opportunity in the 30th minute for Stellenbosch to go 2-0 up. He beats the offside trap on the edge of Golden Arrows box and instead of shooting makes the decision to pass (offside).
As an attacking player he has to back himself more often and shoot instead of looking for that perfect pass. As a senior player in this young squad Adj has every right to be more selfish. His goals stats would be far better if he learn this element of attacking play.
Interesting interview from the Golden Arrows coach about Stellenbosch fc performances.
Lamontville Golden Arrows head coach Steve Komphela has praised Stellenbosch FC for laying the foundations for their current success after surviving relegation in the 2020/21 season.
Arrows suffered a 3-0 defeat at Danie Craven Stadium on Worker’s Day, and Stellenbosch extended their unbeaten run to 25 matches in all competitions.
The Cape Winelands side have grown in leaps and bounds and are currently fighting for the CAF Champons League spot, with Komphela explaining they re reaping the rewards they planted after surviving relegation in 2020/21 after playing a goalless draw with Arrows in KwaZulu Natal.
“Must we also quick to remind that this Stellenbosch team, [in] 2020/21 survived relegation in KZN,” Komphela told iDiski Times. 2020/21, that was their turning point. From 2020/21 they got to position four, then it was position six and this is where they at.
“[It’s a] process, if they had not believed in the process, if they had not invested in the process, they wouldn’t be were they at right now.
“So we should not forget the culmination of the current record is because of the work they put in as soon as they almost got relegated in 2020/21.
“So do people then have an understanding of the process, can people then relate to what is happening now in Stellenbosch in relation to where they had been in 2020?
It tells you that if you’re patient enough, you build properly and you know where to do it, you’ll get results. It’s all about patience.”
(Context: Stellenbosch kept their coach through the rough patch and are now getting rewarded)
Can see ADJ's good form being rewarded with an AWs recall, if a few are unavailable for the June's OFC Nations Cup. We know that Wood (nupitals) will not be in Vanuatu, and would surprise if some others like Singh (needs to sort out his club future) weren't there either.
Still reckon though that if De Jong wants to have a serious chance of WC selection in 2 years, he needs to somehow get himself to Europe, or maybe his home town Auckland in the ALM. PSL like the American USL just too far off the radar
Can see ADJ's good form being rewarded with an AWs recall, if a few are unavailable for the June's OFC Nations Cup. We know that Wood (nupitals) will not be in Vanuatu, and would surprise if some others like Singh (needs to sort out his club future) weren't there either.
Still reckon though that if De Jong wants to have a serious chance of WC selection in 2 years, he needs to somehow get himself to Europe, or maybe his home town Auckland in the ALM. PSL like the American USL just too far off the radar
Without wanting to open too big a can of worms, if he is viewed a s centre-forward by Bazeley, as he was by Hay, then PSL would stand up pretty well against League of Ireland. African football is, perhaps unsurprisingly, quite underrated and underappreciated.
De Jong is a different player to a Mata or Waine; I feel he bridges the gap between Waine's contribution concerns and Mata's technical concerns. In my opinion he has looked the best out of those three strictly based upon All Whites performances. 5 goals/assists in 413 national team minutes is a more than reasonable effort.
Those numbers are bit generous as he got his 2 AWs goals one each, at March 2022 OFC Tourney (New Caledonia) & that India Tourney in 2018 (India). I presume some his assists at those tourneys as well. Waine & Mata I feel have had more of their caps against stronger nations.
Basically ADJ needs to get himself into a league perceived as higher quality/less off the radar. He's also until this season been constantly injury plagued in the PSL. But I sense an AWs recall now he's spending little time in sick bay & playing well.
Odd in a way that neither him (age 27) or Rufer (also 27), have got to Europe. Despite having fathers & uncles who spent alot time playing in Europe.
Who's perception is it that the PSL is not of "high quality or off the radar"?
Because that perception is not shared by the professional class of coaches, scouts and club owners. What was the perception of these opposition coaches of Mamelodi Sundowns on it's preseason results?
Maccabi Tel Aviv 0 -1 Orlando Pirates Independiente del Valle 1 - 3 Orlando Pirates UD Las Palmas 0-0 Pirates
Now your perception might be "But that's only pre-season". And that might be true but I can guarantee you European coaches and scouts do not have a poor perception of the PSL. Example, Jose Peseiro coach of Nigeria needs a goalkeeper for the Super Eagle AFCON campaign. Nigeria have many goalkeepers playing in European 1st, 2nd and 3rd division clubs. No he decides to pick Stanley Nwabali who plays for little old Chippa United. Not as a backup goalkeeper but to start. Even Eric ten Hag mentioned Benni McCarthey experience coaching in the PSL as one of the many reasons he was hired at Man Utd. He knows the PSL through his connection with Ajax.
A good way to judge a good league is if experienced players (who transfer) from that league go straight into the 1st eleven of a European or even an MLS team (because most people here are familiar with the MLS) and not the reserves or loaned to a lower division for experience. An experienced PSL or A-League player will usually not go straight into a first eleven of a 1st tier league team (like Premier League, Bundesliga, La Liga) but for the rest of the European (or MLS) leagues there is ample evidence (lots) of PSL players going straight into the 1st eleven. Now is that European or MLS coach thinking the standard of the PSL is poor? NO!!!!!
What the average fan does not get when they watch the average European team is that teams in Europe can play anyone from the Union (EU) without much restrictions (increases quality) which is huge compared to leagues like the PSL and the A-league which have player restrictions. Coming back to Adj, he has played for 3 PSL teams in South Africa. None of those teams paid a transfer fee (if I'm not mistaken) and that tells you a lot about a player. Adj is a good average player who is a hard and honest footballer that every coach needs in their team because his reliable. Playing in the PSL has improved his game (like Boxie - everybody forgets this) but no league can make you a star. That's up to the player.
As well we seem to be ruling out Kosta playing as a lone CF as he’s small. He seems to win his fair share in the relatively physical A league and is a wily player in top form. I know most of us would automatically rule him out on the basis of his size, but…
De Jong is a curious one, and we don’t often see side’s playing two strikers. Is he a kind of forward/AM utility? Could he perhaps compare favourably to someone like Kraev in creating a front 3 of him/Kosta/plus one from Just/Waine/Mata/ Old/McCowatt/Garbett?
He seems a bit odd in that he’s a big lad, who isn’t a really a target man.
