Lamontville Golden Arrows face the unenviable task of denying Stellenbosch FC a winning start to their Betway Premiership campaign at the Athlone Stadium this evening (kick-off 7.30pm).
Since Stellenbosch sprang into action this season, they have enjoyed the heady achievement of scoring back-to-back wins in successive weeks over Mamelodi Sundowns, the undisputed kings of South African football. It was the first time a rival PSL side had achieved that feat in seven seasons.
Stellenbosch have also played a further four matches – one in the MTN8, three in the CAF Confederation Cup – since August as well, and they swept all before them. In the opening rounds of the Confed Cup, they finished with an 8-0 aggregate.
Moreover, in six matches, they conceded one miserly goal. Perennial Premiership champions Sundowns failed to score against them in two games.
Stellenbosch will be looking to carry this form over into the Premiership, with the Winelands team facing a demanding schedule over the next fortnight.
Stellies coach Steve Barker has an additional task when planning for this match because on Friday, the squad will be winging its way to the Democratic Republic of Congo for a Confed Cup match on Sunday against AS Vita Club.
Incoming 📲 pic.twitter.com/NhcTWCdxiE
— Stellenbosch FC (@StellenboschFC) September 17, 2024
Playing regularly over the past five weeks has allowed Stellenbosch to build up a head of steam, even though many analysts thought the team would battle because of the departures of key players like Iqraam Rayners and Deano van Rooyen. Barker said the few matches have allowed the squad to cope with losing key players.
“The value of the early-season matches is massive. It is a good feeling to experience something different (competing in a continental competition),” said Barker.
“We’re at a stage now where we go into a game knowing that in the first 10 minutes, you going to have to figure things out quickly. When players play locally, they generally know what their opponent is usually going to do, but now they have to figure out things quickly.
“Is my opponent left-footed, right-footed, quick, not quick? What are his strengths? How do they play?
“So, that was great, and it allows us to hopefully take this experience that we’re gaining into the league. I think it’s a massive learning curve – probably more learning off the field than on the field, to be honest, but that is also good for us.”
Stellenbosch are heading into a period where they could be playing twice a week for the next month as well as contesting the final of the MTN8 against Orlando Pirates in Durban on October 5. For that reason, Stellenbosch has been active in the transfer market over the past two days and have added two players to their squad.
Shaakir Ahmed has graduated to the first team after captaining the club’s reserve team last season. He led the team to the 2023/24 DStv Diski Challenge and Premier League Next Generation Cup titles. The defender has penned his first professional contract.
His performances throughout last season earned him his senior debut in March when he featured as a substitute in Stellies’ 3-0 league win over Royal AM.
Stellenbosch have also signed Chumani Butsaka from Cape Town Spurs on a long-term permanent transfer. The midfielder made 116 appearances across all competitions during his time at Ikamva and captained Spurs since the start of the 2023/24 league campaign.
He also previously represented South Africa at the 2022 Cosafa Cup where he scored on debut in a 2-1 win over Madagascar.
Meanwhile, further north, newly-promoted side Magesi FC will make their bow in South African top-tier football with a visit to the Peter Mokaba Stadium to play Sekhukhune United today (kick-off 7.30pm).
Magesi coach Clinton Larsen has high hopes for his team and believes there are a few players in his squad capable of establishing themselves among the best in the Premiership.