After Stellenbosch young centre-back Tylon Smith made a sensational transfer to English side QPR, Kickoff.com got the reaction from one of his former teammates.
Smith was probably looking forward to the 2024/25 season to hopefully make his debut for Stellenbosch in the Betway Premiership.
Especially prior to being included in the South Africa U-20 squad that went on to win the Africa Cup of Nations in May.
The 20-year-old had already caught the eye for Stellies in the DStv Diski Challenge, where the Maroons have been strong contenders for the past two seasons, after they had won the title in the 2022/23 campaign.
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Smith was destined for bigger things after he was named Player of the Tournament and was included in the Team of the Tournament following Amajita's triumph in Egypt.
However, not many expected the level of escalation two months after the AFCON euphoria, as the Cape Winelands outfit announced this week that Smith was transferred to English Championship side Queens Park Rangers.
This website spoke to Stellies goalkeeper Lee Langeveldt, on how they received the big news.
"We're all happy for him, he had a good U-20 Africa Cup of Nations, Player of the Tournament, so we're all happy for him, he showed signs at Diski level of what he can do," Langeveldt told Kickoff.com.
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"Obviously, he was rewarded with a contract for the first team, everything happened so fast for him as well, he didn't even play one game for us in the first team but we're really proud and happy for him.
"Coming from the Diski to Europe is a massive step, he's a quality young defender, he deserves it and I'm sure he will make it overseas," Langeveldt added.
QPR finished 15th in the Championship standings last season.
