Stellenbosch FC’s Junior sides are consistently among the best in South Africa.



It has only been getting better and better for Stellenbosch FC, slowly building a club of huge potential on the back of realistic ambition, patient approach, and all on a tight budget.



The club’s ultimate ownership lies with South African investment holding company Remgro, and the green light to buy the franchise more than a decade ago came from South African billionaire Johann Rupert. But it is run as its own business entity. The Stellenbosch Academy of Sports, who own the club, run a tight ship and has invested in player identification and an expansive youth policy.



Stellenbosch’s success lies on a bedrock of realistic goals and clever player purchases. They also showed restraint and calm when results at first did not go as planned, keeping faith in coach and former football player Steve Barker. This is now paying off as he has been in charge from virtually the start of the project a decade ago and led the club to promotion to the top flight in 2019.



It has meant a special synergy with the players too.



“I don’t think enough credit is given to these players,” says Barker, whose team won their first silverware this season for the Carling Knockout Cup in December.



Many of the players are homegrown products, particularly from Ida’s Valley and Stellenbosch and these areas have mined such rich talent.



Their junior sides are consistently among the best in the country, and they have not been scared to use youngsters into their first team, in contrast to the approach of many other South African clubs who are hesitant to put too much faith in the youth. “The youngsters are all maturing. It’s good to see that the hard work we’ve put in with them for many years is reaping rewards and I see many of them making their mark this season in the league,” adds the coach in discussion with FORBES AFRICA.



One Ida’s Valley graduate is Ashley du Preez, who, reportedly, earned the club over R10 million ($540,300) in a transfer fee when he moved to Kaizer Chiefs in 2022.



Recruitment has also been a success for Stellenbosch with a specialized department searching for players from around the world and making some eccentric signings.



Coach and footballer Ryan Hunt proved so good at identifying players who fit Stellenbosch’s ambitions, profile and pocket, that he was hired away by big-spending Mamelodi Sundowns. One of those was the Argentine Junior Mendieta, who was playing second division football in his country before arriving in South Africa after two seasons at Stellenbosch and was sold to Sundowns for an estimated R15 million ($811,000).



Stellenbosch have kept up their consistent search for players, using sophisticated statistics and data, and continue to unearth gems.



“I’ve been asked a lot about why we’ve done so well and I think it’s just consistency in selection and consistency in performance. And with that, obviously the belief and the confidence that’s grown within the team,” adds Barker.



“I think everybody’s contributed at some stage in the season. The team is in a happy space.”

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‘Team In Happy Space’: The South African Football Club On The Rise