Stellenbosch FC’s story is one of the most common of this 2023/24 Premier Soccer League season, as the Cape Winelands club continues to tap into the top of its weight.
They are on a 21-match unbeaten run lately, having won the Carling Knockout name in December and won a Nedbank Cup semi-final with Mamelodi Sundowns.
It will be their fourth consecutive semi-final, having been eliminated from the knockout stages of the MTN8 thanks to away goals from the Orlando Pirates.
Their 1-0 win over the Pirates in the second leg remains the only time Buccaneers coach Jose Riveiro has been beaten by knockout since his arrival in South African football, an 18-match domestic cup streak.
Stellenbosch last lost 203 days ago, more than six months ago, when they took the lead against Mamelodi Sundowns in the league, but found themselves on the back of a 3-1 defeat.
In the six months and 21 days since, they have beaten the Pirates twice and Cape Town’s provincial rivals Kaizer Chiefs, recorded their biggest win in the Nedbank Cup, 6-1 against Milford FC, and claimed their biggest win ever against a top-flight compatriot in Saturday’s 4-0 win over SuperSport United. but also in the Nedbank Cup.
They have 14 wins and seven draws, scored 40 goals and conceded 10.
They have conceded more than one goal just once in that series, when they came back from two goals down to beat the Pirates 3-2 in late December.
This defence is also strengthening, having conceded two goals in their last seven games and has kept five clean sheets.
It’s incredibly impressive and all the numbers point to a team on the rise. Apart from Sundowns, no other team can match those numbers this season, so they would arguably be the favourites to take second position and win the CAF Champions League next season. .
Stellenbosch can move five transparent points from the current position when they arrive at Sekhukhune United, which may have been a daunting task before as they struggled outside the Western Cape, but not anymore.
They have won their last 11 away games (D2) in all competitions, with draws at Chippa United and SuperSport, and have in fact dealt with more away (21) than at home (18) this season. Only Sundowns (3) have conceded less than 8 of their 8 goals in 11 away games.
He is incredibly impressive in each and every way and with an experienced coach like Steve Barker, no-nonsense management, perfect off-field amenities and a strong culture across the team, they arguably would not have reached their ceiling yet.
Barker was inspired by how his team dismantled a very strong SuperSport this weekend.
“I think it’s probably one of the games since I’ve been at this football club where I can look back and say this team has matured, it’s grown, it’s developed,” Barker said. “Not only did we show quality in the fight, we also showed quality with the ball. Some of the game and some of the goals we created were top class. I was inspired by the quality I witnessed.
“We have a lot of ambition and a lot to play for in the league as well. Eight league games. . . 24 points.
This championship ambition is a bit fanciful. If Stellenbosch wins the remaining 8 games, he will score 63 points, meaning Sundowns would want just 10 more games out of their last nine games to be champions.
Maybe this season, but the way they build something special, who knows for next year?
STELLENBOSCH FC’S 21-GAME UNBEATEN RUN
Matches are DStv Premiership unless otherwise stated.
Oct. 4: Stellenbosch 3-0 TS Galaxy
21 October: Chippa United 1-2 Stellenbosch (Carling Knockout L16)
3 November: Polokwane City 0-2 Stellenbosch (Carling knockout qualifier)
7 November: Stellenbosch 2-1 Richards Bay
11 November: Chippa United 0-0 Stellenbosch
25 November: AmaZulu 0-1 Stellenbosch
28 November: Cape Town Spurs 0-3 Stellenbosch
December 2: Richards Bay 0-3 Stellenbosch (Carling Knockout SF)
8 December: Stellenbosch 1-0 Cape Town
16 December: Stellenbosch 1-1 TS Galaxy (Carling knockout final)
Dec. 29: Orlando Pirates 2-3 Stellenbosch
February 16: SuperSport 1-1 Stellenbosch
23 February: Stellenbosch 1-1 Pretoria Callies (Nedbank Cup L32)
March 1: Stellenbosch 1-1 Chippa United
5 March: Cape Town 0-1 Stellenbosch
9 March: Stellenbosch 1-1 Cape Town Spurs
March 15: Milford 1-6 Stellenbosch
March 30: Stellenbosch 3-0 Royal AM
April 2: Kaizer Chiefs 0-1 Stellenbosch
6 April: Stellenbosch 0-0 Sekhukhune United
Suit 13: Stellenbosch 4-0 SuperSport United
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