SuperSport United teenager Shandre Campbell says the influence of Lyle Lakay has been invaluable in his debut season in the senior team.
The 18-year-old follows in the footsteps of Lakay, who also made his professional breakthrough as a teenager at SuperSport after a switch from the now-defunct Old Mutual Academy.
Lakay went on to star for Bloemfontein Celtic, Cape Town City before four glittering seasons at Mamelodi Sundowns where he was converted into a left-back by then-coach Pitso Mosimane.
And since his return to SuperSport, aged 32, after falling out of favour with the Brazilians, he’s become an influential figure for Campbell.
“I’ve learnt that when the pressure gets in my mind I need to learn how to stay calm, I’ve also learned from players like Lyle Lakay playing on my side, he teaches me a lot of things, we’re always practising [together] to see where I can improve,” Campbell said.
“I’m still young and he’s a far more experienced player, he’s a good player, he teaches me, he mentors me and keeps me going also.”
Lakay has scored four goals with five assists in 27 games across all competitions at SuperSport this season.
