Stellenbosch F.C.

Stellenbosch Football Club is a South African professional football club founded in 2016 following the relocation of Vasco da Gama F.C. to Stellenbosch, Western Cape. It is the first Premier Soccer League (PSL) team to be based in Stellenbosch, and plays home games at Danie Craven Stadium and Idas Valley Stadium.[2]

Stellenbosch F.C.
Full nameStellenbosch Football Club
Nickname(s)Stellies
Founded3 August 2016 (3 August 2016)
GroundDanie Craven Stadium, Stellenbosch
Capacity16,000[1]
CoachSteve Barker
LeagueDStv Premiership
2022–236th
WebsiteClub website

History

The club was formed in August 2016 when the Premier Soccer League Executive Committee approved the application from National First Division side, Vasco Da Gama for a name change following the relocation from Parow to the Stellenbosch Academy of Sport (SAS) in Stellenbosch.[3] Stellenbosch F.C.'s first National First Division game was played on 28 August 2016. Stanley Muishond scored the first goal in team history in a 3–1 loss to Mthatha Bucks. On 1 December 2016, Stellenbosch confirmed that Steve Barker had joined Sammy Troughton in a joint-coach position. The Cape Winelands side finished their inaugural season in third, clinching the final promotion/relegation playoff spot by one point. However, Stellies finished last in the mini-league. Following an unsuccessful attempt to gain promotion to the Absa Premiership Stellenbosch parted ways with head coach Sammy Troughton.

In 2017, Stellenbosch's second season, the team recorded ten wins and ten losses in the thirty matches of the season. The team failed to qualify for the playoffs, finishing eighth. In August 2018, the Stellenbosch Academy of Sport purchased Stellenbosch Football Club.[4]

The final round of the 2018–19 National First Division season saw Steve Barker's Stellenbosch F.C. confirm their title victory – and promotion to the Absa Premiership (now DSTv Premiership) – with a 0–0 draw at home to Maccabi F.C.

On 25 October 2020, Stellenbosch F.C. made history by playing the first PSL game (against Moroka Swallows F.C.) at the Danie Craven Stadium.[5] This stadium is traditionally a rugby stadium and, as of 2020, is one of the two venues for Stellenbosch F.C. home games in Stellenbosch. DSTv Diski Challenge matches are played at Idas Valley Stadium, while DStv Premiership games are played at the Danie Craven Stadium.

The Chief Operating Officer at the club, Rob Benadie stated "The name 'Stellenbosch FC' shows our intention of creating a club that symbolises the Cape Winelands community. We are on a pathway of building something special‚ and we want to take this community with us."[6]

The crest of the club features a bunch of grapes, as Stellenbosch is based within the Cape Winelands District Municipality.

Current squad
As of 22 August 2023[7]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
2 DF South Africa RSA Basil Mphahlele
7 MF South Africa RSA Deano van Rooyen
8 MF South Africa RSA Sihle Nduli
9 FW South Africa RSA Iqraam Rayners
10 MF South Africa RSA Nhlanhla Mgaga
11 FW The Gambia GAM Salifu Colley
12 FW South Africa RSA Thulani Mini
14 FW Ivory Coast CIV Anicet Oura
17 GK South Africa RSA Sage Stephens
18 MF New Zealand NZL Andre de Jong
19 FW South Africa RSA Mervin Boji
20 FW South Africa RSA Kgaogelo Sekgota
21 DF South Africa RSA Fawaaz Basadien
22 MF South Africa RSA Qobolwakhe Sibande
No. Pos. Nation Player
23 MF South Africa RSA Jayden Adams
24 DF South Africa RSA Thabo Moloisane
26 DF South Africa RSA Athenkosi Mcaba
27 DF South Africa RSA Kyle Jurgens
28 MF South Africa RSA Genino Palace
29 MF South Africa RSA Antonio van Wyk
30 GK South Africa RSA Oscarine Masuluke
32 GK South Africa RSA Dejean Ah Shene
33 DF South Africa RSA Liam de Kock
34 FW South Africa RSA Devin Titus
35 GK South Africa RSA Lee Langeveldt
38 DF Ghana GHA Prince Amponsah
45 DF Ivory Coast CIV Ismaël Olivier Touré
— MF South Africa RSA Roy-Keane Avontuur

Honours

Reserves (U-23)

References
  1. "Stellenbosch FC to play home games at historic Danie Craven Stadium". iol.co.za. 24 October 2020. Archived from the original on 6 November 2021. Retrieved 5 November 2021.
  2. "Home Venues: Stellenbosch Football Club". www.stellenboschfc.com. Archived from the original on 5 July 2019. Retrieved 19 March 2021.
  3. Hendricks, By: Allan; Sport (29 July 2019). "The new football champions of Stellenbosch". New Frame. Retrieved 25 July 2023.
  4. "SAS buys local football club SFC". netwerk24. 20 August 2018. Archived from the original on 6 May 2019. Retrieved 6 May 2019.
  5. Mafata, Masego (21 November 2020). "Stellenbosch Football Club makes history at Danie Craven Stadium". MatieMedia. Archived from the original on 21 November 2020. Retrieved 19 March 2021.
  6. "Vasco renamed Stellenbosch FC". Supersport. 3 August 2016. Archived from the original on 12 August 2016. Retrieved 3 August 2016.
  7. "Stellenbosch FC – Squad". Soccerway. Archived from the original on 10 April 2021. Retrieved 10 April 2021.
  8. "Stellenbosch crowned Diski Challenge champions". SuperSport. 14 May 2022. Retrieved 22 August 2023.
  9. "Stellies thump Leicester to win Next Generation Cup". Super Sport. 31 July 2022. Archived from the original on 29 March 2023. Retrieved 29 March 2023.
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