Andre de Jong (Stellenbosch FC | South Africa)
Stellenbosch (2nd) travel to Supersport (6th).
https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2024/04/13/south-africa/cup/vasco-da-gama/supersport-united/4341370/
Edit - ADJ starts
Stellenbosch who are having a great season, into the Cup semis.
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
Easier to get a work permit than Europe?
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.
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.
https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2024/04/17/south-africa/psl/sekhukhune-united/vasco-da-gama/4170018/
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.
Orlando Pirates (2nd) have now overtaken Stellies on GD, re that oh so important 2nd spot, but Stellenbosch with this game tonight in hand.
https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2024/04/21/south-africa/psl/ts-galaxy/vasco-da-gama/4170105/
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
— The Niche Cache (@thenichecache) April 22, 2024
Stellenbosch’s unbeaten streak is now up to 23 games in all comps
Shout out to the bloke who stood inside the goalmouth and therefore couldn’t make the clearance#FlyingKiwis pic.twitter.com/U3ydnptYUr
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
— The Niche Cache (@thenichecache) April 22, 2024
Stellenbosch’s unbeaten streak is now up to 23 games in all comps
Shout out to the bloke who stood inside the goalmouth and therefore couldn’t make the clearance#FlyingKiwis pic.twitter.com/U3ydnptYUr
Bizarre piece of defending that! If he'd stepped onto the goal line he would have been able to chest the ball down and clear it with ease!
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
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.
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
Another assist for Andre De Jong, as Stellenbosch win 5-0 vs Polokwane to extend their unbeaten streak to 24 games in all comps
— The Niche Cache (@thenichecache) April 27, 2024
It was a close game up until this goal though - Iqraam Rayners scored all five
ADJ has 5 goals & 3 assists in his last 14 matches 🤙 #FlyingKiwis pic.twitter.com/c1KWYMfWAt
https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2024/05/01/south-africa/psl/vasco-da-gama/golden-arrows/4170121/
Stellies stay 2nd but Orlando Pirates keep winning as well and are only 3 pts behind in 3rd
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.
Anyway well done.
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.
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 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.”
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
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
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.
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.
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?
KAA Gent 2 - 2 Mamelodi Sundowns
Go Ahead Eagles 0 - 1 Mamelodi Sundowns
Sparta Rotterdam 1 - 3 Mamelodi Sundowns
NAC Brede 1 - 2 Mamelodi Sundowns
or of Orlando Pirates then
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.
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.
Sundowns are 13 points clear atop the PSL, and with 2 games in hand. They made the semifinals of CAF Champions League. Lost to ES Tunis 2-0 over the 2 legs.
Have a heap of Bafana Bafana national team players.
Good tough measure of where Stellies & ADJ are really at.
https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2024/05/05/south-africa/cup/vasco-da-gama/mamelodi-sundowns/4351710/
Edit - ADJ starts.
So unfortunately no Cup final appearance for Stellenbosch. Sundowns still a cut above.
4 PSL games left, including Sundowns returning to Danie Craven Stadium.
Adj played well but had opportunities to (once again) shoot or break as Sundowns were playing with a high line. He decides to pass to his striker offside. Needs to be braver as an attacking player. Keeps passing the responsibility off.
But then he could probably say his helping his mate, Rayners( main striker) to win golden boot race.
https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2024/05/08/south-africa/psl/vasco-da-gama/amazulu/4170036/
Orlando Pirates (3rd) only 1 point behind Stellenbosch in the tight race for the 2nd CAF Champions League spot.
Sundowns (1st) running away with the PSL title yet again.
Mamelodi Sundowns have already won the league and are looking to emulate Arsenal's "invincibles". Somebody has to stop them. 😆
Almost must win for Stellies to stay 2nd you feel. They have a very tough game against PSL unbeatables Sundowns next week.
https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2024/05/11/south-africa/psl/moroka-swallows/vasco-da-gama/4170124/
Edit - ADJ on the pine
Luckily Orlando Pirates also lost - at home 0-1 to lowly Richards Bay - so Stellies stay 2nd for now by a point with 2 rounds left.
Stellies 1 point ahead of Orlando Pirates, with 2 games left. So if Stellenbosch can pull off the upset win they will finish 2nd, and get the 2nd CAF Champions League spot. Brockie played in the Champions League a few years back, travelling to all sorts of exotic African destinations.
Edit - ADJ starting, and 0-0 at HT. Stellies failed to convert a penalty.
Missed pen costly for Stellies.
Luckily Orlando Pirates (3rd) also lost 1-0 at TS Galaxy.
So Stellenbosch (2nd) keep their 1 point gap heading into the final round. They control the battle for 2nd spot.
Stellies away at Richards Bay (15th/2nd last)
Pirates at home to SuperSport (5th)
Stellies and Orlando Pirates are in a battle to finish 2nd with the final round of games this weekend. Like Europe the two continental championships differ in prestige and rewards. When it comes to most PSL clubs however finishing 3rd is a bit of an unwelcome curse.
Why? Well travelling in Africa is incredible difficult. Most countries on the continent(particularly if not in Southern Africa) you will have to fly via Dubai or Europe to get there. Then take a bus for a few hours on terrible roads. Then get back in time for your regular League game. Not fun. Clubs like Mamelodi Sundowns and Orlando Pirates use private jets to some difficult destinations but for small clubs it's just not possible.
When it comes to the Champions League the cost and effort is worth it as the potential reward is big but not so for the Confederations Cup. With the PSL clubs being private companies with no Government assistance (unlike other big clubs on the continent) finishing 3rd is a huge financial burden. It's not uncommon to see some clubs use the Confederations Cup to blood some youth players and if they eliminated in the 1st round then O'well. But some clubs don't learn aka Maruma Gallants (last season) and go all the way to the final (at huge cost) only to get relegated to the 2nd division.
Let the qualifier beware:)
Stellenbosch (2nd, 50 pts) win at Richards Bay (15th/2nd last), and 2nd is theirs
https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2024/05/25/south-africa/psl/richards-bay/vasco-da-gama/4170144/
Orlando Pirates (3rd, 49 pts) have the tougher game on paper hosting SuperSport (5th)
Edit - ADJ on the pine.
Edit 2 - Stellies in trouble 2-0 down at Richards Bay, at 30 mins in. The hosts are in the relegation playoff spot and could get to safety with a win.