After a stellar third-place finish last year, Stellenbosch FC find themselves fighting for a spot in the top 10. With Olisa Ndah's debut looming and Gavin Hunt tightening the screws, can the Cape side finish the campaign with a flourish? Photo: Backpagepix
Image: Backpagepix
The 2025/26 Betway Premiership season has been a perilous road for Stellenbosch FC, who have not enjoyed the campaign most would have expected.
The Western Cape outfit, who impressed with a third-place finish last season, now find themselves in unfamiliar territory. Instead of building on that success and pushing towards continental qualification, they are locked in a battle to remain in the top half of the table.
A top-10 finish has become the new target, a reality that few associated with the club would have predicted at the start of the campaign. After a challenging start to the season, Stellenbosch FC are at least showing promising signs of recovery.
With 21 matches played, they have managed just six victories, alongside eight defeats and seven draws. Those numbers underline a campaign plagued by inconsistency, where moments of promise have too often been undone by lapses in concentration and costly errors.
Despite these struggles, Stellies have clawed their way into 10th position, a notable improvement considering how close they hovered to the relegation zone earlier in the season. That upward movement, however modest, reflects a team slowly rediscovering its footing after months of uncertainty.
Their recent 1-1 draw against Golden Arrows in Durban perfectly encapsulated their season: full of hope but with little conversion and action.
There were glimpses of attacking intent and structure, but ultimately, they were let down by individual mistakes. Coach Gavin Hunt cut a frustrated figure after the match, particularly following a costly error from goalkeeper Sage Stephens that handed Arrows a way back into the contest. Yet even in disappointment, there were signs of resilience, a refusal to collapse that could prove crucial in the weeks ahead.
A key factor behind the gradual improvement has been the club’s activity in the transfer market. Over the past two windows, Stellenbosch have worked to reinforce their squad with experienced professionals capable of stabilising performances on the pitch. The blend of youth and experience appears to be slowly taking shape, giving the side a more balanced and competitive edge.
Among the most anticipated additions is former Orlando Pirates defender Olisa Ndah. Though yet to make his debut due to work permit complications, Ndah’s arrival is expected to significantly strengthen a defence that has struggled for consistency throughout the campaign. His presence alone brings a sense of assurance, and once available, he could play a pivotal role in tightening up a back line that has conceded at crucial moments.
Hunt’s influence is also beginning to show. Known for his disciplined approach and tactical awareness, the experienced coach has started to instil greater organisation within the team. While results have not always followed, there is a growing sense that Stellenbosch are becoming harder to break down and more purposeful in their build-up play.
The road ahead remains challenging. With several tough fixtures still to come, including Mamelodi Sundowns next month, consistency will be key if Stellies are to climb further up the table. The return of Ndah, combined with Hunt’s steady guidance, could yet provide the foundation for a stronger finish to the season. Stellies will go on the hunt against Chippa United next on Saturday, a team many would consider subpar compared to Stellenbosch. But with the shaky season they've endured, you never know which way it could go.
This has not been the campaign Stellenbosch envisioned. But in the midst of adversity, there are signs of progress, and perhaps, the beginnings of a late resurgence that could restore some pride to a season that once promised so much more.