Stellies chief Rob Benadie: How SA can become a continental powerhouse again

IN the ever-turbulent world of South African football, few voices speak with as much calm, clarity, and measured insight as Rob Benadie, CEO of Stellenbosch FC.

- MATSHELANE MAMABOLO

As his club prepares for another competitive Betway Premiership season, Benadie’s reflections offer not only a window into the ambitions of a growing club but also a pointed commentary on the state of football in the country.

Speaking during an interview with the South African Football Journalists Association (Safja), Benadie was characteristically open, outlining both the footballing and operational blueprint of a club that has steadily emerged from the Cape Winelands to become a respected force in the PSL.

“We go into the season usually as one of the better-prepared clubs,” Benadie noted. “We try to do everything we can to ensure we're ready — from preseason training camps to scouting smartly.”

Indeed, the club’s approach to recruitment is methodical. While Stellenbosch FC lost key players such as Ismael Toure, Fawaaz Basadien and Sihle Nduli, Benadie is confident in their replacements — a Belgian centre-back, a left-back from Azerbaijan, and depth in midfield, including the arrival of midfield dynamo Khiba.