QPR and Bafana Bafana defender Tylon Smith has pointed out two key differences between English and South African football having moved abroad in the last two months.
The SA under-20 defender switched to the Championship side from Stellenbosch ahead of the start of this season after impressing at U20 AFCON a few months ago.
He made his senior debut last month, playing the full 90 minutes in the team’s 3-2 Carabao Cup defeat to Plymouth.
Smith has highlighted the quicker pace of English football, where players have little time on the ball, as opposed to the SA game, which usually allows for more time in possession.
He also notes that English football is significantly more physical than the game in South Africa.
“Here [England], it’s a little bit different because the level is higher and it’s quicker here compared to the football in South Africa,” Smith told QPR media department.
“You don’t have much time on the ball here, if you can think about it, you have like two touches on the ball. But in South Africa, you have [much] time on the ball.
“And in South Africa, there isn’t that much physique but here they [play] a lot more physical.”
When asked about his goals for the team, Smith stated that he hopes to help QPR win promotion to the Premier League.
“My aim is to fight for the team often on the pitch, stop goals,” he added.
“I just wanna win titles with QPR and I just wish that as a team, we [get promoted] to the Premier League. That’s my hope.”
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