Following his transfer to Queens Park Rangers in the EFL Championship, young South Africa Under-20 defender Tylon Smith has received valuable advice from a Kaizer Chiefs defender.
Smith officially began a new chapter in England on Wednesday last week, being unveiled by QPR after finalising his move from Stellenbosch FC.
His impressive talent was evident earlier this year when he was named Player of the Tournament at the Under-20 Africa Cup of Nations [AFCON], a competition South Africa ultimately won.
Smith, who was born in Stellenbosch, was a crucial force for Amajita, excelling in defence and even scoring the match-winner against Nigeria in the semi-final, which earned him the tournament’s best player accolade.
Fellow Western Cape native Rushwin Dortley, who plays for Chiefs, has advised the 20-year-old defender not to change his playing style, emphasising that QPR were impressed by what they saw.
DORTLEY’S ADVICE TO TYLON SMITH
“For Tylon, that’s amazing to see. You know, sometimes we footballers have dreams of playing in South Africa for Chiefs, Mamelodi Sundowns, and Orlando Pirates. We only have dreams to play there, but to move abroad and play at the club with that reach history, it’s amazing for him and I wish him all the best,” Dortley told UKhozi FM.
“And he must keep on doing what he was doing when he was at Stellenbosch. He must just keep on playing because I always say, when a team buys you, they buy you because of what they saw.
“Don’t change your style of play. Keep on playing because that’s the reason they signed you. So, keep going and keep on progressing and all the best.”
Dortley encouraged young Western Cape-based players to find inspiration in Smith and others who are now excelling at top clubs in Gauteng.
“I think he’s moved to QPR and me being at Chiefs, [Oswin] Appollis at [Orlando] Pirates, Jayden Adams at [Mamelodi] Sundowns. There are a lot of examples for the boys in Cape Town…”
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