Shandre Campbell, a remarkable teenage talent from South Africa, delivered an outstanding performance as he led Club NXT, the youth academy of Belgian powerhouse Club Brugge, to a narrow 3-2 victory over RFC Seraing in the First Division B last Friday.
The 19-year-old striker netted the first goal in the 60th minute with a precisely aimed low shot into the bottom corner from the edge of the penalty area, and just 12 minutes later, he provided an assist to Alejandro Granados from a corner to extend the lead.
This win bolsters the team’s chances for a playoff spot, with Club NXT currently sitting in sixth place with 37 points, six points clear of seventh-placed K. Lierse SK after 23 league matches.
The South African U20 international has now accumulated seven goals and two assists over 17 appearances in the Challenger Pro League, sharing the title of the club’s top scorer with Lenn De Smet and Lynnt Audoor.
Since his transfer from SuperSport United last July, Campbell has made swift strides in Belgium, with his impressive displays in the second tier capturing the attention of first-team coaches, which resulted in his promotion to the first team in February 2025.
The SuperSport academy product made his senior debut for Brugge in mid-February, coming on as a substitute in the 85th minute against St-Truiden, followed by another substitute appearance in a 1-1 draw with Gent.
Moreover, Campbell was recently named as a substitute for Brugge’s UEFA Champions League round of 16 first leg match against Aston Villa on Tuesday. Whether this emerging talent will travel with the squad for the return leg at Villa Park on Wednesday remains to be seen.
To advance to the next round of Europe’s elite club tournament, the Belgian champions will need to overturn a two-goal deficit following a 3-1 loss at home, having conceded goals from Leon Bailey, Marco Asensio, and an own goal by Brandon Mechele.
