The Grapevine - Edition 1

The latest news, updates, and exclusive interviews around the Stellenbosch FC first team, Ladies side, and development programmes.

THE

GRAPEVINE

1ST

EDITION

1ST

EDITION

Exclusive interview with

Quwan Plaatjies

HAT-TRICK HERO

THE OFFICIAL STELLENBOSCH FC MAGAZINE

KIT REVEAL

Introducing the new

Umbro x SFC home and

away kits

MEET THE SQUAD

Meet our coach, new

signings and

promoted talent

FIXTURE LIST

Find out when and where

you can watch the Maroons

this season

AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2026

A WORD FROM

SFC CEO Rob Benadie

Joining the Hollywoodbets

Super League

SFC LADIES

DISKI DIGEST

With Evangelos Vellios

Ashley Du Preez makes

Stellenbosch return

FEATURE

SFC U-12s

crowned champions

ACADEMY

PROUDLY SPONSORED

STRATEGIC PARTNERS

CEO'S ADDRESS

RobBenadie

There is a familiar sense of excitement and anticipation around Stellenbosch FC as

the Club celebrates its 10 year of existence. The progress that has been made over

the last decade has been remarkable, and is the result of a collective effort from our

players, technical team and staff, partners and supporters, and the wider

Stellenbosch community. We are incredibly grateful for the role that each and every

individual has played in getting us to where we are today. But, we are still only getting

started. The Club's past achievements are important and worthy of recognition, but

we know success is not guaranteed and that it remains our collective responsibility to

approach every competition, every match and every challenge with the same hunger

and commitment that has driven our progress.

To this end, we have strengthened our squad with a combination of experience,

quality and promising young talent. The return of Ashley Du Preez is particularly

significant as we bring back a player with a strong connection to both the Club and

the Stellenbosch community. We have also welcomed PSL-hardened players such as

Bradley Grobler, Tlakusani Mthethwa, Terrence Mashego, Given Msimango, and

George Matlou, to name a few, as we look to improve on last season. Recruitment is

only part of the strategy though, and the Club continues to create opportunities for

players who represent the next generation, and the likes of Luthando Vena and

Keanan Johannesen, who both hail from Stellenbosch, and Raoul Daniels and Quwan

Plaatjies, from Cape Town, have areadly benefited from these opportunities this term.

As a Club, we are also incredibly proud to have our SFC Ladies competing in the

Hollywoodbets Super League for the first time in 2026. Stellenbosch FC is committed to

helping women's football grow in South Africa and it is only proper for us and our

community to have a team competeing at the highest level. Our Reserves will also get

their campaign underway soon and we are excited to see how this group of talented

youngsters progress, as is the case for our Academy teams, who compete across the

U-12 to U-18 age group levels. Regardless of which team is on the pitch at any given

time, we know that we can count on the support of the Maroon Army and we cannot

thank our fans enough for their continued belief and backing. You are all an important

part of our identity and we look forward to sharing another season with you.

KICKING OFF

NEW SEASON

The 2026-27 season has arrived and will see Stellenbosch FC compete

for domestic honours across the Betway Premiership, Nedbank Cup,

and Carling Knockout. The first edition of The Grapevine will

provide you with all the information you need to know about the

Maroons throughout the campaign.

meet the squad.

GARROW

NATHAN

meet the squad.

STEPHENS

SAGE

VENA

LUTHANDO

LEBUSA

MOSA

NHLABATHI

SURPRISE

MTHETHWA

TLAKUSANI

NKWALI

SIVIWE

RAMUSHU

KGAOGELO

TAUNYANA

GOPOLANG

LEBITSO

THABISO

ANDRIEAS

VUYOLWETHU

AGBASI

SOLOMON

SIBANDE

QOBOLWAKHE

MASHEGO

TERRENCE

MSIMANGO

GIVEN

GOALKEEPER

DEFENDER

MIDFIELDER

PALACE

GENINO

MBEMBE

AVUZWA

MATSHEKE

DARREL

BUTSAKA

CHUMANI

KAZEEM

LATEEF

BLOM

NJABULO

APRIL

SHAKEEL

MATLOU

GEORGE

DU PREEZ

ASHLEY

DANIELS

RAOUL

GROBLER

BRADLEY

KWAYIBA

SINOXOLO

JOHANNESEN

KEANAN

PLAATJIES

QUWAN

ARIGO

OBUS

TECHNICAL TEAM

Gavin Hunt (Head Coach), Wesley Sergel (Assistant Coach), Pernell McKop (Goalkeeper Coach), Angelo

Kerspuy (Team Manager), Fanie de Klerk (Medical), Menanto de Lange (Strength & Conditioning), and

Jean-Prieur du Plessis (Analysis)

MIDFIELDER

FORWARD

GAVIN HUNT

STELLENBOSCH FC HEAD COACH

GETTING TO KNOW...

FIRST COACH IN HISTORY TO TAKE

CHARGE OF 1000+ MATCHES IN

IN SOUTH AFRICAN FOOTBALL

4X PSL CHAMPION

SUPERSPORT UNITED & BIDVEST WITS

BORN: 11 JUNE 1964 IN CAPE TOWN

PLAYED PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALL FOR

HELLENIC AND CAPE TOWN SPURS

Started his coaching career with

Seven Stars in 1995 and guided

the team to promotion in 1998

HANDED THE LIKES OF BENNI MCCARTHY THEIR

PROFESSIONAL DEBUTS DURING HIS TIME WITH STARS

HAS COACHED IN EVERY EDITION OF THE

SOUTH AFRICAN TOP-FLIGHT SINCE 1998

Won the Nedbank Cup with both Moroka

Swallows (2004) and SuperSport United (2013)

MTN 8 (2016) AND TELKOM KNOCKOUT

(2017) CHAMPION WITH BIDVEST WITS

LATER COACHED THE LIKES OF KAIZER

CHIEFS, CHIPPA UNITED & DURBAN CITY

TOOK CHARGE OF STELLENBOSCH FC ON 1

JANUARY 2026

Stellenbosch FC recently bolstered its ranks by

signing Bafana Bafana international Ashley Du

Preez on a permanent transfer from Kaizer

Chiefs. The significance of Du Preez's arrival is

found not only in the stature of the player, who

is regarded as one of the foremost attackers in

the country, but perhaps even more so in his

longstanding history and affiliation with the

team from the Cape Winelands.

Ten years ago, a then-19-year-old Du Preez

made his professional debut as a footballer in

the colours of Stellenbosch FC in the Club's first-

ever match against Mthatha Bucks. He went on

to make 98 appearances for the Maroons across

his first spell, helping the team earn promotion

as National First Division champions in 2019,

before joining the Amakhosi in a landmark deal

back in 2022. There, he added a Nedbank Cup

winners’ medal to his name, before completing

his much anticipated return.

RETURNING HERO

Stellenbosch FC's squad has undergone something of a

rebuild ahead of the 2026-27 season, with no fewer than 20

players signed or promoted to the first team. Chief among

them is Idas Valley-born forward Ashley Du Preez, who

completed a highly anticipated return to his boyhood club

after spending the last four seasons with Kaizer Chiefs.

"I always knew that I would come back to

Stellenbosch,” Du Preez told the Club in his first

interview since returning to his hometown.

"It’s great to be back where I grew up and at the

Club where it all started for me, and to be part

of the Stellenbosch family again.

"The community knows me well and has always

supported me since the start of my professional

career, so being a local player and representing

the Club again is a huge honour and privilege

for me. It’s an amazing feeling to be back.”

This sentiment was shared by Stellenbosch FC

CEO, Rob Benadie, who was enthused by Du

Preez's return to the Club.

"Ashley has always held a special relationship

with this Club and the Stellenbosch community,

so we are incredibly excited to bring him home.

I always knew that I would come

back to Stellenbosch

"He is also an exceptional footballer who has

consistently proven his quality in the Betway

Premiership over a number of years, and we

believe he will add enormous value to our

squad both on and off the field."

Du Preez has since hit the ground running and

made his second debut during Stellies’ 3-3

Betway Premiership draw against Polokwane

City on 11 August, which was fittingly the Club's

300th ever league match. He then featured in

his 100th outing during league encounter

against Golden Arrows later in the month to

become just the 14th player in history to join

Stellenbosch's prestigious 100-club.

RETURNING HERO

SONS OF THE SOIL

Du Preez isn't the only local player in the

Stellenbosch FC squad after Keanan

Johannesen of Jamestown and

Kayamandi-born Luthando Vena were

promoted to the first team. Both

Johanessen and Vena made their

professional debuts during the Club's

season-opener against AmaZulu.

Elsewhere, Cape Town-born Raoul

Daniels and Quwan Plaatjies are also

among the graduates who have stepped

up from the reserve team this season.

THE NEW FACES AT STELLENBOSCH FC

Nathan Garrow (Goalkeeper) – Auckland City

Solomon Agbasi (Goalkeeper) - Hearts of Oak

Thabiso Lebitso (Defender) – Orlando Pirates

Terrence Mashego (Defender) - Mamelodi Sundowns (loan)

Given Msimango (Defender) – Kaizer Chiefs

Surprise Nhlabathi (Defender) – Baroka FC

Kgaogelo Ramushu (Defender) – Polokwane City

Qobolwakhe Sibande (Defender) – Petrojet (loan)

Gopolang Taunyana (Defender) – Kaizer Chiefs

Tlakusani Mthethwa (Midfielder) – Richards Bay

George Matlou (Midfielder) – Kaizer Chiefs

Avuzwa Mbembe (Midfielder) – Chippa United

Darrel Matsheke (Midfielder) - Marumo Gallants

Lateef Kazeem Adeyanju (Midfielder) - Plateau United

Njabulo Blom (Midfielder) - Borneo Samarinda (loan)

Ashley Du Preez (Forward) – Kaizer Chiefs

Sinoxolo Kwayiba (Forward) - Chippa United

Bradley Grobler (Forward) – Sekhukhune United

Arigo Obus Godspower (Forward) – Rutsiro FC

THE 2026-27

STELLENBOSCH FC X UMBRO SA

HOME & AWAY KITS

SHOP NOW

THE 2026-27

STELLENBOSCH FC X UMBRO SA

HOME & AWAY KITS

NOW AVAILABLE FROM R799

ALSO AVAILABLE AT TOTALSPORTS,

MIKE'S SPORTS, SELECTED

SPORTSMAN'S WAREHOUSE

STORES, AND TAKEALOT

JONES & MILLS

TAKE CHARGE OF SFC LADIES

Stellenbosch FC Ladies are competing in the Hollywoodbets Super League for

the first time season, and have appointed the promising coaching duo of Ilze

Jones and Shannon Mills to lead the charge.

Stellenbosch FC Ladies have appointed

Ilze Jones and Shannon Mills as co-

coaches for the remainder of the 2026

Hollywoodbets Super League season.

Stellenbosch supporters will be familiar

with Jones after she previously served

as the Head Coach of the Club’s reserve

team in the SASOL Women’s League,

while Mills arrives after a successful spell

with Salt River Blackpool, where she

helped the team achieve promotion to

the second tier.

The duo, who have replaced outgoing

Nathan Peskin and his assistant Alan

Theeunisen, both hold CAF B coaching

qualifications and are widely regarded

as two of South Africa's most promising

young coaches in women’s football.

“It’s a great honour for me to have been

appointed to this role,” Jones said. “I’ve

been with Stellenbosch for almost three

years, so I know the culture of the Club

and I’ve seen the growth that has

happened, and I think that does help

moving forward.

"It makes it a bit easier in terms of

working with some of the players, and

it’s a very exciting opportunity. It’s great

stepping into this role with Shannon, and

I’m really excited for us to build on what

we have here.”

A similarly enthusiastic Mills added, “To

be the coach of Stellenbosch FC is a

great honour for me, especially at this

point in my career. I’m very proud to be

here and looking forward to what comes

next.

"We understand that there is a challenge

that lies ahead of us, but we know what

the players are capable of.

"Having this team in the top division is

massive for women’s football in the

region, and in the province as a whole,

because we have so much potential

here, so we want to do well and keep

giving those players something to strive

towards.”

Jones and Mills featured in the dugout

together for the first time during the

Club's Super League encounter against

Galaxy,

and

will

oversee

the

remainder of the historic first-ever top-

flight campaign for Stellenbosch FC.

“We’ve already built a great team here,

and I think the Ladies are ready both

physically and mentally,” Jones added.

“There’s a positive atmosphere and unity

within the team, which is a big plus, and

it’s something that can pull us through

the rest of the season ahead."

SQUADLIST

GOALKEEPERS

#1 Kay-Dee Windvogel

#16 Roxanne de Goede

DEFENDERS

#2 Aneliswa Ngcobo

#3 Geneve Jaftha

#4 Denay Lambert

#5 Mantombi Jingqu

#8 Liskhanya Mayisela

#13 Basheerah Esmael

#15 Alvina Nwansoh Enoh

#22 Robyn Coetzee

MIDFIELDERS

#6 Ember Edwards

#11 Tyuana October

#12 Michell Khan

#17 Tercia van Wyk

#18 Serenity Warner

#19 Zinese Norris

#20 Sonika Mzingeli

#21 Janica Andrews

#24 Nabeelah Galant

FORWARDS

#7 Janice Smith

#9 Lethuthando Mthembu

#14 Astria Boks

#23 Jade Jones

HISTORY MAKER

RECORD BREAKER

At the age of 20, Quwan Plaatjies wrote his

name into the history books earlier this month

after becoming the first-ever player to score a

hat-trick on his professional debut in the

Betway Premiership

A graduate of the famed Stellenbosch

FC development programme, Quwan

Plaatjies enjoyed a senior debut to

remember when he scored a history-

making hat-trick during the Club's 3-1

Betway Premiership win over Marumo

Gallants in August.

“It feels really good to have scored a

hat-trick on my professional debut,"

Plaatjies reflected after the match. "It’s

something that I am incredibly proud to

have achieved and that I still can’t

really believe I did. Three goals in my

first game… it’s an unbelievable feeling.

“I was surprised when coach Gavin

[Hunt] told me I was starting, and I

could feel it a bit in my chest. I was a bit

nervous, to be honest. But, when the

game came around, and I started

warming up and playing, that feeling

went away. I started to hear and feel

the fans - people who were there for

my first game - and I could feel the

confidence building.

“From then on, I knew I would score, but

when I scored the first goal, I didn’t

even know which way to run. I had a

celebration planned and everything,

but I completely forgot to do it. I was

just so happy at that moment."

Plaatjies was named Man of the Match after scoring a hat-

trick on debut during Stellenbosch FC's 3-1 Betway

Premiership win over Marumo Gallants

Through all the goals and records though,

the 20-year-old has remained grounded

and reveals that the opportunity to

become a professional footballer is the

thing that he is most grateful for.

"The environment at Stellenbosch FC has

been so important for me," he concludes. "I

come from a dangerous area and since

joining the Academy when I was 16, I’ve

been looked after really well. I’ve taken

everything in and learned as much as I

can. I had a bad injury that kept me out for

nine months and I thought my career was

over, and that I would lose everything, but I

kept pushing and the staff supported me

really well.

“I prayed a lot to get my opportunity in the

first team and endured a lot of tough

times before finally getting there. This is

something I have wanted from when I was

three or four years old. It was many tough

years in the making, years of blood, sweat,

and tears, but I held firm until I got the

chance. When that opportunity came, I

said to myself and my mom, 'My chance

has finally come', and I think I took it with

both hands."

HISTORY MAKER

RECORD BREAKER

Not satisfied with merely scoring on

debut, Quwan Plaatjies netted twice

more to complete an incredible hat-

trick. In doing so, he became the first

player in PSL history to score three

goals in his maiden appearance.

“I can’t believe that I am the first. I don’t

really know how to feel to be honest,

because I don’t have the words. In the

moment it felt special to score on

debut, and a hat-trick is obviously

special too, but it felt normal for me to

score because this is what I train for. I

had no idea that I had made history. It

was only after the game that I learned

about the record. "

We’re very excited for the start of the 2026/27

season. It's always an exciting time when the

new campaign comes around, and our first

objective has already been achieved with a

number of our players promoted to the first

team. Raoul Daniels, Quwan Plaatjies, and

Orlando Mbembe are some of the youngsters

who have made the step up and they’re now

getting valuable minutes at senior level. They

follow some of the local players who were

already promoted last season and who are

once again part of the first team setup, like

Keanan Johannesen and Luthando Vena. Now,

we’re excited to see this new batch of young,

talented players take our programme forward.

We've had to adapt to the adjusted age rules

in the competition which unfortunately forced

us to say farewell to some of the players we

were hoping to rely on this season, but this is

still a really exciting group of players to work

with. We're really proud of what we have

achieved over the past few years, and believe

that there will once again be some faces from

this batch who will light up the first team in

years to come, and hopefully even go on to

represent the South African national team.

THE DISKI DIGEST

SFC DDC HEAD COACH: EVANGELOS VELLIOS

DID YOU KNOW: STELLENBOSCH FC SHARES THE RECORD FOR THE MOST

DDC TITLES (2) AFTER BEING CROWNED CHAMPIONS IN 2022 AND 2024.

MEET THE SQUAD: Nathan Langeveldt, Ayaan Jacobs, Chanler Brookes, Keanu Toutie

(C), Nkosingiphile Nzaca, Lithemba Mondliwa, Ntando Bunyula, Njabulo Khumalo,

Cazwill Williams, Jordan Mack, Bokamoso Mokokosi, Callen Muller, Rafael Da Silva,

Sananga Mariba, Rayyaan Liederman, Zinedine Steyn, Clayton Leonard, Asonge

Yakpbi, Solethu Mabhenu, Hayden Adams, Ayabonga Moloi, Roger Willemse.

THE STELLENBOSCH FC RESERVE TEAM

In a historic season for Stellenbosch FC's U-12 team, the Young

Maroons capped a remarkable campaign by being crowned Two

Oceans LFA champions for the first time in the Club's history in their

age group. Coach Tembani Mini reflects on a memorable season.

"At the U-12 age group, winning is not always the most important thing but it does

help the players grow and develop a good mindset. It's also a good feeling to be

crowned champions, especially as it is something we have never achieved at this

age group as a Club. Our Academy has set a high standard and produced

players that have gone on to play in the PSL, so it was important for us to enjoy this

achievement and maintain that level at the start.

That said, the primary motivation remains for us to ensure development of the

players, and this group was aware that there are things that need to be done

before you can win, that there is a level of work required, and that success is not

something that can be taken for granted. Of course, winning on top of that is

incredible and I'm very proud of the boys.

I'm also grateful to our Head of Youth, Jean Pierre Farrugia, for allowing us the

flexibility to bring our unique coaching perspectives to the team, to our U-14 coach

Sylvin Thomas, who I work closely with in terms of understanding what we're

hoping to establish for the players in the next few years, and our U-16 and U-18

coaches. Our attention is already on next season, and how we're going to build for

the future, identify more local players and help develop football in the region,

while still maintaining those same standards that we have set. It's an exciting

challenge because we are always aiming to grow and improve."

STELLENBOSCH FC U-12S

CROWNED CHAMPIONS

SFC ACADEMY

Interested in advertising with us? E-mail marketing@stellenboschfc.com for more

information on how your brand could feature in the next editions of The Grapevine.

Thank you to our partners at aQuellé for hosting us at their

KZN headquarters during our recent pre-season camp