Bafana Bafana star Lyle Foster’s Burnley FC clinched promotion to the English Premier League [EPL] in record time.
The soon-to-be English Premier League side achieved this in a hard-fought 2-1 victory against Middlesbrough, on Friday, 7 April, with just nine games still to be played in the league.
Nobody has clinched promotion with more games to spare than the Clarets since the Championship rebranded, and all eyes will now be on Kompany and the squad ahead of the 2023/24 Premier League campaign.
The Vincent Kompany-coached outfit booked their place in England’s top-flight with seven games to go. Unfortunately, Bafana striker, Foster, did not feature in the match-day squad against Middlesbrough.
BURNLEY’S JOURNEY TO PROMOTION
Burnley dropped to the Championship last season after finishing 18th in the Premier League. Their bad run of form last season meant they had to let go of their long-term manager Sean Dyche.
They brought in one of the newly emerging managers and former Manchester City captain, Kompany.
The Premier League legend changed the club’s direction, signing young, promising talents and implementing a new style of play. One of the promising talents Kompany signed was Bafana’s Foster.
In January, Foster signed a four-and-half-year deal with Kompany’s side from Belgian side KVC Westerlo.
Since he arrived at the club, the 22-year-old has played eight games and has one goal to his name.
Despite his slow start in a new league, his manager, Kompany, has shown faith in him and believes there is still room for the South African to grow.
WHAT KOMPANY SAID ABOUT THE BAFANA INTERNATIONAL A FEW WEEKS AGO…
“I think now the rest, and I said that to him, and I said it before he came as well. We’re really happy with the strikers we have, so all he has to do now is literally blend his way in.
“And then he’ll have his moment, and when he does, then he’ll have the momentum. I’m pleased with the tools I’ve seen so far because I know what these types of players can become.
“But then they’re young, and it’s still about the work you do in training,” said Kompany to the English media.
Foster might join the likes of Benni McCarthy and Lucas Radebe as a few Bafana players that got to play in the Premier League.
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