After skipping the Betway Premiership to England, Stellenbosch goalkeeper Lee Langeveldt has revealed what made QPR to sign Amajita star, Tylon Smith.
Not many DStv Diski Challenge graduates get an opportunity to go to Europe before making their senior debut.
But that's what happened to Smith, who was signed by English Championship side Queens Park Rangers barely two months after helping South Africa U-20 side win the Africa Cup of Nations.
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Amajita conceded only three goals en route to winning the U-20 AFCON and did not concede in the knockout stages, beating Nigeria in the semi-finals and Morocco in the final.
One of the key cogs to keeping things tight at the back was Smith, whose performances earned him a dream move to England, before he could officially kick a ball for the senior team.
Langeveldt, who watched him closely at training, after he was promoted to the first team, has revealed the qualities the attracted QPR, who finalized the move this week.
"Tylon is a very aggressive defender, quite tall, very good in the air, lately his passing game had improved, I think because he was training with the first team a lot, that helped him a lot," Langeveldt told KickOff.com.
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"Ever since he was a young boy we could see the rise of Tylon Smith, he's been with the academy since a young age, his rise has really been immense.
"We call him 'Rafa', he idolized Rafiq De Goede, one of our ex players who was good in the air, very strong on the ball, rough tackling and no-nonsense defender. Basically more or less he's (Smith) a similar type of defender," Langeveldt described.
Smith, 20, became the first player to progress from Stellies' U14s, U16s, U18s and reserve teams to securing a move overseas.
Photo by Ugbodaga Irabor Kennedy/Gallo Images
