Stellies changing the face of the beautiful game one step at a time

BY the time you read this, Stellenbosch FC’s fate in the CAF Confederation Cup would already have been decided.

- ZAAHIER ADAMS

Either Steve Barker and his charges are still celebrating after the club’s most famous night in Cairo, or the men in maroon have left the mythical land of pyramids and pharaohs with their tails between their legs.

But regardless of the outcome against Zamalek at the imposing Cairo National Stadium, Stellenbosch FC are the real game-changers of South African football.

Mamelodi Sundowns are undoubtedly the pacesetters. The Brazilians are simply on another level, both in terms of resources and how best they utilise it to full effect. Their qualification for yet another CAF Champions League semi-final is no fluke. Soweto giants Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs, of course, will always have their legacy, although the accolades happen farin only be tolerated by their long-suffering supporters for so long.

And this is what brings me to Stellenbosch FC. As a professional football club, they should still have their training wheels on after only six years in the elite Premiership.

But unlike contemporaries such as Royal AM, who tried to run before they could even crawl, Stellenbosch FC have taken each step in their stride.

Of course, Stellies are backed up by billionaire Johann Rupert’s REMGRO and their Stellenbosch Academy of Sport (SAS), but at no stage was the club handed a blank cheque to spend with gay abandon.