Shandre Campbell made his Bafana Bafana debut, set up the winner against Egypt, and was then asked to go back to the Under-23s. The Kortrijk winger’s reply: “I will do anything for the nation.”

The 21-year-old was called up for the September AFCON qualifiers against Guinea and Eritrea and the friendly against Egypt. He came off the bench against the Pharaohs and set up fellow debutant Puso Dithejane, helping Bafana win 1-0.

Now the senior side is in camp for the Kenya double-header, while AmaGlug-Glug prepare for their Olympic qualifier against Madagascar.

Campbell has been sent to the junior side, and he told the media on Wednesday that he does not see it as a step back. He said Pitso Mosimane called him personally.

“Coach Pitso did call me, he told me he strongly believes in me,” Campbell said. “And he said he wants me to go down to the Under 23 team and be a senior player and you know help them out as much as I can.

“And I said, of course, coach, I will do anything for the nation. And the Under 23 team has also been my team since COSAFA.”

Under 23 coach Raymond Mdaka also spoke to him, and Campbell took both conversations as a compliment.

“So, I know everyone very well, and coach Pitso and coach Raymond, they all believe in me,” he added.

“They trust me which I love the most. They trust me. They know the type of player and person I am, and trust is important. So, I thank them for trusting me.”

Campbell said he picked up plenty from Bafana’s experienced attackers.

“Well, of course in the first team I had Thapelo Maseko, I had Luther [Singh], I had Tashreeq [Matthews], I had Oswin [Appollis].”

He plans to bring that experience to the junior side, and he made it clear it does not make him special.

“So, I think coming from Bafana Bafana down to the Under 23 national team, I just try and see what I’ve learned and try to adapt it to Under 23. But I’m no bigger than anyone here, I’m the same as everyone else.”

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