CAPE TOWN - The motive for a Stellenbosch mayoral committee member's murder is still unclear. Xolile Kalipa (54) was shot dead in Kayamandi on Sunday night. The police's Wesley Twigg: "The victim was declared deceased on the scene by medical personnel. The motive for the attack forms part of the police investigation. The suspects fled the scene and are yet to be arrested." DA Western Cape leader, Tertuis Simmers, is calling on police to act swiftly. "Xolile was known as a gentle, true servant of the people and worked tirelessly to uphold the DA's values and championed the residents he served. We extend our heartfelt condolences to Xolile's family, friends, community and colleagues. The DA will monitor the matter closely and we hope the perpetrators will face the full might of the law." Sections View this post on Instagram A post shared by Soccer Laduma (@soccer_laduma) SA News African News World News The Club House Podcasts & Videos More Premiership Thabo Matlaba made his first start for Arrows with Kagiso Malinga back up top while Stellies restored Genino Palace and Thato Khiba from the win over Chippa United Abafana Besthene made a positive start and saw a forward-run by Siyanda Mthanti from deep lead to an opening The Maroons contained the pressure and found the opener in the 15th minute against the run of play as Devon Titus capitalised on a defensive lapse from a corner-kick Malinga almost got the host level in no less than a minute through a smart header following a delivery to the area but his effort sailed wide of Oscarine Masuluke’s goal The Maroons still enjoyed momentum amidst the pressure as Andre De Jong nodded inches wide of the area from a cross by Fawaaz Basadien Arrows boss Manqoba Mngqithi made a double substitution at halftime – bringing on Angelo Van Rooi for Sabelo Sithole and Thokozani Lukhele for Malinga as they looked to get back on level terms Titus looked to haunt the host once more through a succession of chances minutes from the break but he was courted by goalkeeper Edward Maova Abafana Besthende were still on the back-foot and were breached again in the last 20 minutes when substitute Lesiba Nku met a flick on from De Jong to head in Stellies added another goal two minutes later as Thabo Moloisane made the most of a cross from Basadien following a corner and nodded beyond Maova to seal a good winon the road Kaizer Chiefs officially lifted their DStv Diski Challenge title in style after hammering AmaZulu 5-0 FC while Stellenbosch FC narrowly beat TS Galaxy 1-0 and Orlando Pirates striker Siphamandla Msezane walked away with the Golden Boot It was a record-breaking season for the Naturena outfit who won 22 of their 28 matches drawing four and losing just two as they finished on 70 points They also conceded the least goals (16) the entire season Chiefs took centre stage as the last game of the season receiving a guard of honour from Usuthu as they were confirmed to be champions already last weekend after beating Magesi FC 1-0 Amakhosi wasted no time as Manqoba Ozoemena scored in the sixth minute to make it 1-0 Ozoemena completed his brace to make it 2-0 and went into the break with that comfortable lead The troublesome Ozoemena was fouled inside the box and the referee awarded a penalty to Chiefs Naledi Hlongwane stepped up and beat the keeper to make it 3-0 Ozoemena continued with his fantastic performance after setting up Siphesihle Tati to make it 4-0 Neo Bohloko delivered a well-timed free kick into the box and found Hlongwane who made no mistake by heading home to make it 5-0 and complete his brace Stellies finished the season on a high note after beating the Rockets thanks to Ethan Felix’s strike in the 68th minute The Cape Winelands side finished with 63 points in a 28-match league Pirates’ striker Msezane finished the season as the top goalscorer after netting 15 goals Cape Town City’s Cee-Jay Bezuidenhout could only score 14 goals iDiski Media was founded in December 2019 and comprises of a range of football media products Contact us: [email protected] As the Betway Premiership season nears its conclusion two clubs from South Africa’s southern tip are navigating vastly different paths from opposite ends of the league table are chasing a second consecutive continental berth following an impressive CAF debut earlier this season Cape Town City find themselves anchored to the foot of the table with only two fixtures remaining and the PSL promotion/relegation play-offs looming large which offers qualification to the CAF Confederation Cup has intensified into a two-horse race between Sekhukhune United and Stellenbosch Sekhukhune currently occupy third spot with 45 points holding a slender one-point lead over Stellenbosch particularly after fifth-placed TS Galaxy suffered a surprise home defeat at the hands of Richards Bay all eyes are now on Sekhukhune and Stellenbosch in the race for that prized continental ticket Sekhukhune’s final stretch is anything but straightforward They will host Kaizer Chiefs on 17 May before travelling to face Lamontville Golden Arrows at the end of May they may need to win both matches to secure their spot in African competition enjoy a slight advantage with three matches still to play They begin their run-in with a daunting away trip to defending champions Mamelodi Sundowns this Sunday That clash will be followed by a home fixture against SuperSport United at Danie Craven Stadium (May 17) before concluding their campaign with a Cape derby against Cape Town City at Cape Town Stadium (May 24) A demoralising run of 14 matches without a win has left them rooted at the bottom of the table with 23 points — three adrift of Golden Arrows and SuperSport United City’s recent defeat to Sundowns has made them favourites to land in 15th place and enter the dreaded promotion/relegation play-offs Their final two matches offer little comfort: an away trip to Polokwane City on May 17 followed by a high-stakes derby against Stellenbosch on May 24 Although survival is still mathematically possible the odds are stacked against them — especially given their poor form and dwindling confidence Promotion in the Motsepe Foundation Championship remains undecided with at least two matchdays remaining in that league Nine clubs are jostling for automatic promotion and the two play-off spots appointed in a desperate bid to turn things around faces the unenviable task of rallying his squad under enormous pressure with that uncertainly also looming For a team that once harboured ambitions of continental football the reality of play-offs is a bitter pill to swallow the unpredictability of football keeps hope alive Richards Bay and Magesi hovering just above City a dramatic finale to the ‘Battle of the Basement’ remains possible Written by: IOL News Magic 828 AM is a South African commercial radio station playing the best of hits from the 80s Download the Magic828 App now on your mobile phone by clicking here © 2025 Magic828. All Rights Reserved A member of the Stellenbosch University (SU) Student Representative Council (SRC) is currently in police custody over an alleged gender-based violence incident. This is according to a statement by the SRC released on their official Instagram account A second student from SU is also currently in custody This is according to a statement by Tertia Kruger The Stellenbosch South African Police Service station, where a Stellenbosch University Student Representative Council (SRC) member is currently in custody after an alleged gender-based violence incident. This is according to a statement by the SRC on their official Instagram account “[The university understands] that there are different versions [of] the events in question and that the matter is currently under active investigation by SAPS with two arrests reportedly having been made,” said Kruger.  “The matter has been formally reported to the university the necessary procedures are underway,” said Kruger “The university is aware of sensitivity arising from what appears to be a [gender-based violence] related incident that was reported to [SAPS].” The SRC has since referred the matter to the SU Equality Unit and the SRC member has been “temporarily suspended from the SRC with immediate effect pending the outcomes of the investigations by both the Equality Unit and [SAPS]” according to the statement released by the SRC It is believed that a member of Stellenbosch University’s Student Representative Council (SRC) will appear at the Stellenbosch Magistrate’s court on 5 May the SRC member was allegedly involved in a gender-based violence incident who is reportedly also involved in the matter has been temporarily suspended from all SRC duties and responsibilities pending the outcomes of a review by Student Imbizo “It is important to note that these processes which rely on formal submissions and include gathering statements and understanding the full circumstances take time and require careful attention to detail as well as the continued cooperation of stakeholders,” said Kruger The Centre for Student Life and Learning (CSLL) is providing support for all students involved and affected by the matter while SU will continue its internal processes and cooperate with SAPS Mamelodi Sundowns edged closer to clinching the 2024-25 Betway Premiership title as Kaizer Chiefs' woes continued in the local top flight Goals from Iqraam Rayners and Tashreeq Matthews earned Sundowns a comfortable 2-0 victory over relegation-threatened Cape Town City in the Mother City on Saturday Masandawana maintained their 12-point lead at the top of the standings and they now need two wins from their last four matches to successfully defend the league title Evidence Makgopa and Relebogile Mofokeng netted as Orlando Pirates claimed a come-from-behind 2-1 win over Kaizer Chiefs who opened the scoring through Glody Lilepo the Buccaneers remained second in the standings while Amakhosi remained ninth after extending their winless run to seven matches in the elite league The action started on Friday as Lebohang Nkaki cancelled out Tebogo Mashigo's opener in a match which saw sixth-placed AmaZulu FC held to a 1-1 draw by seventh-placed Polokwane City in Durban Lindokuhle Zikhale's second-half goal fired ten-man Richards Bay to the 11th spot following a hard-fought 1-0 victory over fifth-placed TS Galaxy in Tshwane Stellenbosch FC head coach Steve Barker has confirmed that they already looking to bolster their ranks ahead of next season after injuries hampered their ambitions this campaign teams aim to finish on a high and are also preparing for next season in terms of renewing contracts and recruiting and they are already in talks with some players trying to give them new contracts and also looking to bolster their team for the 2025/26 season Barker mentioned that they struggled in the frontline after Bradley Mojela and Ashley Cupido both suffered long-term injuries We’re having a meeting tomorrow morning at eight o’clock again just obviously to look at certain options and think ahead of what we need and possible situations that we may have to deal with,” Barker told the media just it’s a bit unlucky to have both Bradley [Mojela] and Ashley [Cupido] out at the same time Sanele [Barns] and Andre [de Jong] to start And then we brought on Legger Philander from our DDC team “So been a bit tough with the last couple of games on having our strikers available and hopefully we can have a good window.” Check out the upcoming Betway Premiership fixtures and the updated log in our match centre Barker also insisted that they need to make decision on some of their players whether to extend their contract or perhaps look into selling them “It’s more like there are certain extensions that need to either be done or not – and couple of decisions that we need to make but we’re happy with the squad that we have It’s been a good squad,” he continued “We’ve shown that we have depth in certain positions It showed a bit of lack of that with the two injuries I just think it’s for us to be just smarter how we structure the squad and who we bring in.” The longest serving coach in PSL also mentioned that qualifying for the continental football for next season would attract more players because every player wants to be in that space.  Contact us: [email protected] As a team hoping to qualify for Caf competition next season Stellenbosch were on the end of a convincing 3-0 win against Golden Arrows in their latest Betway Premiership assignment at the Mpumalanga Stadium on Saturday afternoon While Devin Titus opened the scoring in the 14th minute goals by Lesiba Nku and Thabo Moloisane were enough for Stellies to grab maximum points on away soil Following a relatively slow start to the game Stellenbosch edged their opponents in the ball possession count early on and were patient in their build-up play going forward Arrows were left to defend their quarters as a result of Stellies' early advantage on the ball Stellenbosch took the lead in the 14th minute as Devin Titus added his name to the scoresheet following a right-footed effort from outside the 18-yard area Sbonelo Cele and Kagiso Malinga produced attempts at goal in quick succession but were unable to get the ball beyond Masuluke Oscarine between the sticks Stellenbosch continued to create chances but often fell short when it mattered most the travelling side went into the break with their lead intact The Cape Winelands side looked lively after the restart as seen with goal-scoring attempts by Titus who proved to be a tricky customer throughout the tie Stellenbosch doubled their advantage in the 71st minute as second-half substitute Lesiba Nku joined Titus on the scoreboard Nku made sure to guide the ball home with a header inside the six-yard box Stellenbosch tripled their advantage a minute after Nku’s effort as Thabo Moloisane showcased his aerial ability via a headed effort from close range Stellenbosch saw out the game efficiently with three goals to the good Simba SC head coach Fadlu Davids cut a grounded yet proud figure after guiding the Tanzanian giants into the final of the TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup following a tense semi-final second leg in Durban against Stellenbosch FC Having carried a slim 1-0 lead from the first leg in Dar es Salaam Simba held their nerve at the Moses Mabhida Stadium to secure a goalless draw in the return leg – enough to punch their ticket to the showpiece final where Moroccan heavyweights and former champions It wasn’t all smooth sailing for the East Africans who were under pressure from the first whistle as Stellenbosch pressed high and fast in search of an early goal who revealed he may have picked up an unusual injury in the process “I think I fractured my toe at half time,” the former Orlando Pirates coach said with a wry smile “Because it was not the football we wanted to play but this is an occasion where players have got to learn and you've got to be brave.” In a brutally honest post-match assessment Davids acknowledged that his players didn’t impose themselves on the game as they had hoped in the first half but was quick to highlight the team’s ability to adapt and manage the game when it mattered most “You’ve got to sometimes get on the ball and not be afraid to make mistakes “It was then very important to manage the game in the second half We showed that we are a team that can dominate ball possession dominate the XG – and now we showed that we are a team that can fight!” While many of his players and fans will be eager to bask in the moment Davids was quick to downplay the celebrations Simba now turn their attention to a mouth-watering clash against RS Berkane – the runaway leaders of Morocco’s Botola Pro 1 and no strangers to success in the TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup.The final promises to be a heavyweight showdown between two sides with very different styles but equally high ambitions “I was very pleased with the performance and the result,” Barker said “We are trying to push to finish as high up the table as we can so this was a big game for us and an important one to win away from home “We controlled the majority of the game and I thought there were moments that we played very well when we scored a set-piece goal and then followed it up shortly afterward with another set-piece goal it’s important that you also look to keep your clean sheet and we pride ourselves on that so it was good not to concede as well.” “It will go down to the last game of the season They are also playing well and picking up results Both teams are applying pressure on each other so I do think it will go all the way down to the wire A clinical performance in front of goal 🔥 pic.twitter.com/3BB3wZYml7 — Stellenbosch FC (@StellenboschFC) May 4, 2025 “Thabo has been superb throughout the season He got his due recognition by making the last Bafana Bafana squad and I would be very surprised if he’s not in line to win the Defender of the Season award “He’s been consistent for us throughout the year and another very good performance from him against Arrows.” “Whenever you play Sundowns it will be tough I think they’ve only lost two games this season we have to be at our best and that tactically and technically we will have to execute our game plan really well they have individual brilliance all around the park “We’ve shown ourselves to be competitive against Sundowns though so we also have to believe that we can go there and get a result and show them that we want to become a team that is challenging for league titles and being consistently good on the continent “It’s these types of teams like Sundowns that are a good benchmark for us to see where we are.” Contact Us Fourteen teams, representing different countries around the world, recently competed in a football tournament at Lentelus Sportsgrounds in Stellenbosch.  the Student Representative Council (SRC) International students manager and final-year BA (International Studies) student at Stellenbosch University (SU) who was part of the team that organised the Maties Cup of Nations The goal was to make international students feel part of the SU student community by having the students “compete with our teams and just meet different people from different backgrounds” Team Namibia and Team France warming up for the Maties Cup of Nations tournament at Lentelus Sportsgrounds on 26 April “This is the first tournament of its kind,” said Thabang Mollo Student Representative Council (SRC) International students manager and final-year BA (International Studies) student Team Namibia warming up for the Maties Cup of Nations group stage matches.“We had fun,” said Othso Nafele, member of team Namibia and a second-year BEng (Mechanical Engineering) student at Stellenbosch University. “That’s all that counts.” Left to right: Samuel Ndeatapo and Michel Kakisingi. PHOTO: Buhle Bam “Basically, what we are promoting is culture, diversity, and [gender] inclusion,” said Simamkele Tozela, Transformation SRC manager and PgDip (Environmental Management) student. “The requirement was that each team should have a minimum of one female player to participate in the event,” said Mollo. The gender-diverse team composition was an intentional effort to transform the social football sphere, said Tozela. The football tournament was well received by the student community, said Sithole. Students were able to select the country they wished to represent in the Maties Cup of Nations, thereby allowing students to represent their home country, said Mollo. The rest of the teams were composed of local students to meet the ten-member team requirement, he said. Karen Dzimati (right), a second-year BSc (Computer Science) student, was one of the spectators at the Maties Cup of Nations, supporting Noni Adams (left), a second- year BSc (Conservation Ecology) student, who was in team Jamaica. “Seeing all the different cultures, all the different people playing; seeing the atmosphere and the good music,” said Dzimati. “It is very fun being here and being a supporter.” PHOTO: Buhle Bam “Our team is quite a mixed team,” said Omphile Moemedi, a SciMathUS student, who represented the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). “Some people we don’t know in the team, which is quite surprising, but we play well together.” Moemedi’s highlight of the tournament was assisting a goal that contributed to team DRC winning their first match. Othso Nafele, a second-year BEng (Mechanical Engineering) student, said that it felt good to represent Namibia in this campus event. The winner of the tournament was team France, which consisted of French international students, according to Mollo. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Stellenbosch University SRC (@stellenbosch_src) This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page Stellies traveled to Mpumalanga Stadium in Hammarsdale with the knowledge that the encounter was a must-win fixture in the wider scheme of the club’s continental ambitions The team from the Cape Winelands showed no signs of pressure though and wasted no time by taking the lead in the 15th minute when Devin Titus opened the scoring with a deflected effort Andre de Jong came close to doubling the advantage later in the half as Stellenbosch looked to reward their superiority but the solitary goal was all that separated the sides at the break It was a case of more of the same in the second stanza and Steve Barker’s side finally found their second goal through substitute Lesiba Nku The winger showed good movement in the box to get onto the end of De Jong’s flick-on and headed home with composure to double his side’s lead Dust had hardly settled on Nku’s goal when Stellies scored again this time through Thabo Moloisane who got on the end of a cross from Fawaaz Basadien to put the game to bed It was a fitting moment for Man of the Match Moloisane who made his 50th Betway Premiership appearance for Stellenbosch during the match The victory saw Stellies climb to third on the log level on points with Sekhukhune United but with a game in hand ahead of Babina Noko’s clash against Magesi FC later on Saturday Stellenbosch will be in action again next Sunday when the club travels to Pretoria for their final away game of the season to face table-toppers Mamelodi Sundowns this content is not available in your region You will be redirected to the homepage Golden Arrows will host Stellenbosch FC this Saturday at 14:00 in a crucial Premier Soccer League encounter features the home side currently positioned 12th in the league table with 26 points while Stellenbosch FC finds themselves in 4th place with a total of 38 points Golden Arrows will be seeking to improve their record of 6 wins Stellenbosch FC boasts a more impressive record of 10 wins with a goal tally of 28 scored and only 17 conceded Our betting prediction for the match strongly favours an away win for Stellenbosch FC given their current form and league standing With odds of 1.91 at Paripesa for an away victory this presents a compelling opportunity for bettors looking to capitalize on the odds the market for both teams to score could also be worth considering we lean towards the prediction that both teams will not score Golden Arrows have endured a challenging season thus far securing only 6 victories in their 28 matches The team has struggled to find consistency evidenced by their recent form which includes only 1 win and 2 defeats in their last five fixtures across all competitions Their last match was a disappointing 0-1 defeat at home against AmaZulu FC a result that further exacerbated their struggles at the bottom half of the league table The team has scored a mere 15 goals this season Under the guidance of coach Manqoba Mngqithi Golden Arrows have attempted to implement a more attacking style of play but the lack of clinical finishing has often hampered their efforts showcasing their difficulties in converting home advantage into points As they prepare to face a more formidable opponent in Stellenbosch FC the pressure will be on Golden Arrows to deliver a performance that can uplift their spirits and potentially cause an upset currently sitting in 4th place with 38 points The team's latest victory came in the form of a 1-0 home win against Chippa United further solidifying their position in the upper echelons of the league Stellenbosch FC boasts one of the best goal differentials in the league Coach Steve Barker has instilled a tactical discipline within the squad enabling them to perform consistently well both at home and away The away record is particularly noteworthy This resilience has made them a tough opponent for any team and they will be eager to build on their recent success against Golden Arrows The combination of solid defensive work and an efficient attack makes Stellenbosch FC a formidable force in this matchup The last direct encounter between Golden Arrows and Stellenbosch FC resulted in a convincing 2-0 victory for Golden Arrows showcasing their potential to perform well against this opponent looking at the overall head-to-head record in their last five meetings This mix indicates that while Golden Arrows have had their moments Stellenbosch FC has often proven to be the stronger side in recent times while Stellenbosch FC has excelled with 3 wins These contrasting forms further emphasize the challenges that Golden Arrows face heading into this match the evidence points towards a challenging afternoon for Golden Arrows making an away win for Stellenbosch FC the most plausible outcome Terms and conditions of respective bookmakers apply. 18+ Gamble Responsibly - gamblingtherapy.org we and our partners use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information Consenting to these technologies will allow us and our partners to process personal data such as browsing behavior or unique IDs on this site and show (non-) personalized ads may adversely affect certain features and functions Click below to consent to the above or make granular choices. Your choices will be applied to this site only. You can change your settings at any time or by clicking on the manage consent button at the bottom of the screen West Ham United U19s were left frustrated after drawing 3-3 with Stellenbosch in their final group stage match of the Premier League Next Generation Cup in India.  The Irons knew that only a win would be good enough to reach the final of the tournament while the South African side only needed a draw to book their place at the top of the group after winning their opening two ties.  Goals were aplenty in the blazing conditions at Reliance Corporate Park in Mumbai with Kyle Bailey notching the opener for Stellenbosch after 22 minutes.Kaelan Casey responded with a header from a Lewis Orford corner but Stellies hit back through Roy-Keane Avontuur to lead 2-1.  this time with Liam Jones chipping the ball over the head of goalkeeper De Jean Ah-Shene to level before the end of the 35-minute first half George Earthy slotted home a third on 55 minutes to put West Ham ahead for the first time in the game but they could not hold on as Avontuur ran through and slotted home left-footed to tie the game and see the Hammers finish second in Group A Site designed & built by Other Media, powered by Clubcast Home | Sport coach Steve Barker says his side’s aim is to continue to exceed expectations and overturn a 1-1 first leg deficit against Tanzania’s Simba S.C to reach the final of the CAF Confederation Cup who are coached by South African Fadlu Davids in the second leg of their semi-final at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban on Sunday The 43-year-old Davids says as much as they have a young team Simba Sports Club are a big institution who are expected to go all the way in the competition South African clubs have a had good run in this seasons’ CAF interclub competitions will be the third South African club to battle for a place in the final of CAF’s interclub competitions this season Pirates were unfortunate after Pyramids twice came from behind on Friday to beat them 3-2 while Sundowns booked their place in the CAF Champions League final after a 1-1 draw with Al Ahly in Cairo who have quietly gone about their business in the CAF Confederation and exceeded expectations “Obviously a bit of a precarious scoreline to be in but you know it’s not long ago that Simba lost 2-nil away and won in penalties and we have a strong belief and confidence that we can continue to exceed expectations There’s no reason why we can’t make sure that we are in the final.” After Davids joined the club at the start of the season he became the first coach to take the Tanzanian giants to a semi-final of a CAF interclub competition and a new coaching staff we have exceeded expectations like I said it’s a young team and a big club coming together we are probably expected to go all the way.” Davids believes matches of the magnitude of CAF’s interclub semi-finals are won by clubs that can do well in the second legs and also everybody expected Pirates to win after they scored two away goals It’s who can manage the expectations of a big match semi-final second leg We have a big job in the second leg.” The second leg between Stellies and Simba will kick off at three o’clock at the Moses Mabhida stadium Tanzanian giants Simba SC took a slim advantage in the first leg of their TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup semi-final defeating South Africa’s Stellenbosch FC 1-0 in a tightly-contested encounter in Zanzibar on Sunday Jean Ahoua’s expertly taken free-kick just before half-time proved decisive at the Amaan Stadium on Sunday with the Ivorian defender firing low into the corner after a VAR review overturned a prior foul It capped off a first-half performance in which Simba looked sharper and more composed in possession The result gives Simba a slender edge going into the return leg in South Africa but Stellenbosch—playing in their maiden CAF competition—will take heart from their resilient showing and the narrow margin Stellenbosch entered the clash riding a wave of confidence after their stunning quarter-final elimination of defending champions Zamalek But they found Simba a different kind of challenge—more physical Simba created the better chances throughout with Elie Mpanzu and Steven Mukwala proving constant threats Mpanzu forced multiple saves from Stellenbosch goalkeeper Oscarine Masuluke while Mukwala’s movement opened space for overlapping fullbacks and runners from midfield The visitors’ best opportunity came in the 27th minute when Devin Titus’ powerful header drew a sharp stop from Simba keeper Ally Salim but Fawaaz Basadien’s speculative strike flew wide in added time with bookings for both sides and limited rhythm due to injuries and substitutions Stellenbosch manager Steve Barker introduced fresh legs including Langelihle Phili and Genino Palace but they failed to break down Simba’s compact shape will be satisfied with the clean sheet and home win but know the job is only half done They must now prepare for a potentially hostile second leg in the Western Cape where Stellenbosch have already proven they can unsettle giants the stage is set for a dramatic conclusion in South Africa Trailing 1-0 on aggregate to a solitary goal from Simba’s Jean Ahoua in the first leg Stellenbosch will be hoping to turn the tie around on home ground when they welcome the Reds to South African soil on Sunday afternoon The match will be played away from Stellies’ traditional home at Danie Craven Stadium due to the venue not meeting CAF’s eligibility requirements as is the case with neighbouring Athlone Stadium while DHL Stadium is also unavailable due to the conflicting rugby fixture between the Stormers and Benetton the team from the Winelands have taken the game to Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban where they previously hosted Nsingizini Hotspurs and RS Berkane in previous stages of the competition Tickets for the continental encounter are on sale for R30.00 from Webtickets and participating Pick n Pay outlets and the match will also be broadcast live on SABC 1 and SuperSport channel 209 Stellies coach Steve Barker cast a defiant figure and shared his belief that his side had the quality and belief to overcome the narrow deficit “…I am very confident that [on Sunday] we will overcome this deficit and that we will be in the final,” he said “There is no surety that we will get to the final Stellenbosch Municipality aims to appeal a recent court ruling in which it lost a bid against the owners of a local excavation site communications manager at Stellenbosch Municipality “The municipality is in the process of thoroughly reviewing the judgment,” said Grobbelaar we can categorically state that we strongly disagree with the findings of the court The current state of the excavation site poses an ongoing safety risk to the public communications officer at Stellenbosch South African Police Service (SAPS).  The Western Cape High Court found that “two necessary requirements for the granting of a final interdict have not been met [by Stellenbosch Municipality]”, according to a court document from a judgement delivered by the Western Cape High Court The document stated that the municipality lacked both a “clear right” and proof that no alternative remedies were available The property is located on 77 Bird Street in Stellenbosch and is owned by the Cova Da-Iria Trust The document highlighted this as proof that the existing safety measures are inadequate.  “The municipality initiated legal proceedings to compel the trust to rehabilitate the property in Bird Street to its original the trust consistently failed to comply with the municipality’s directives.”  the court action followed years of efforts by Stellenbosch Municipality to resolve the matter amicably The document stated that the excavation is approximately 10 metres deep and 30 metres wide and was initially intended for a commercial development It also mentioned letters dating back to September 1997 where the municipality addressed the trust on the unsafe conditions of the excavation The Bird Street excavation, once intended for development, remains fenced off. This is according to a court document from a judgement delivered by the Western Cape High Court on 8 April. PHOTO: Nadia Swart The trust submitted a formal application to the municipality on 17 February 2025 for approval of a boundary brick wall as an alternative to rehabilitating the excavation, according to the document. Martin believed that the construction of a perimeter wall would adequately address the safety concerns that this site poses.  SMF News reached out to Francisco Daniel de Canha Junior, trustee of the Cova Da-Iria Trust, for comment, but did not receive a response by the time of publishing.   Stellenbosch FC’s dream TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup run continued on Wednesday evening after they sent shockwaves across the continent with a 1-0 win over defending champions, Zamalek SC in Cairo. After holding the defending champions to a goalless draw in Cape Town last week, the tournament debutants had the mammoth task of travelling up north to face the Egyptian powerhouse in front of an intimidating Cairo crowd. With the odds heavily stacked against them, Stellies – as the South African side is affectionately known did the unthinkable with a gallant showing that concluded with a hard-fought 1-0 win over the Egyptian giants thanks to a late strike by midfielder, Sihle Nduli. It was a cagey affair in Cairo from start to finish, with the visitors treading carefully against their more fancied opponents who also were cautious in their approach – wary of being caught on the break. With the tie going into the break goalless, Zamalek came out stronger in the second half with the aim of putting matters to rest. The tactic proved to work against them, as their added numbers in attack exposed them at the back. It was in the 79th minute that Sihle Nduli, found the back of the net with a late strike that silenced the Cairo International Stadium. With victory well in sight for the tournament debutants, they held on against the ongoing attack of the hosts who tried breaking the stubborn defense but did not have luck on their side against a well structed Steve Barker led side. The victory for Stellenbosch sees them set up a semi-final encounter against Tanzanian giants, Simba SC who overturned a 2-0 first leg defeat to Al Masry to advance 4-1 on penalties following their 2-0 victory in Dar Es Salaam. Local International Off The Pitch CAF-Confederation-Cup Result: Stellenbosch FC 0-0 Simba SC (0-1 aggregate) The Tanzanian outfit came into the clash with a slender lead after winning the first leg 1-0 last weekend although coach Davids was disappointed not to have scored more goals on the day Stellenbosch coach Steve Barker made just one change from the first leg as Khomotjo Lekoloane came in for Ibraheem Jabaar as Oscarine Masuluke kept his spot between the sticks ahead of Sage Stephens It was a lively affair in the early stages of the encounter but Stellenbosch had to wait until after the 20-minute make for a sight at goal with Chumani Butsaka firing over the target with an effort from distance The hosts went even closer five minutes before the halftime break as New Zealand striker Andre de Jong lost his marker in the area but sent his header inches over the crossbar Barker's men thought they were given a lifeline ten minutes into the second half after being a awarded a penalty however the decision was reversed after the referee had a view of the incident on the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) monitor The hosts responded with a double change after 64 minutes as Sanele Barns and Genino Palace replaced Lekoloane and Butsaka while Lesiba Nku made his way onto the field five minutes later The changes looked to have paid off as Stellenbosch pulled ahead ten minutes later through Palace's finish but the VAR stepped in once again ruled the goal out for offside The South African threw everything forward in search of a goal in the closing stages but the Tanzanian outfit remained resolute to hold on for the draw and book their spot in the final playEchegaray: Man United need to focus on the Europa League (1:26)ESPN FC's Luis Miguel Echegaray believes Manchester United need to focus on the Europa League after suffering a 1-0 defeat to Wolves in the Premier League Stellenbosch FC will host Simba SC for the second leg of their CAF Confederation Cup semi-final in Durban Tanzania's Simba won the first leg in Zanzibar due to a controversial goal Jean Charles Ahoua scored off a free-kick right before half-time which saw Oscarine Masuluke seemingly put off by Simba players who had strayed offside Now, Stellenbosch will hope to turn the tie around on home soil Playing at Durban's Moses Mabhida Stadium due to a scheduling conflict at Cape Town's DHL Stadium is far from ideal for them but Steve Barker's side are accustomed to playing home games in the Confederation Cup outside the Western Cape CAF has strict regulations governing stadium usage and the only suitable venue close to home for Stellenbosch will host a United Rugby Championship fixture between the Stormers and Benetton the day before Stellies face Simba Simba will be looking to make their first continental final since the 1993 CAF Cup which they lost to Ivorian side Stella Adjamé Stellies will be left with a mountain to climb Stellenbosch have never played in a continental final before, but as they battle Sekhukhune United for third place in the Betway Premiership indications are that they are likely to become Confederation Cup regulars at the very least Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban has hosted many high profile football matches like the 2010 FIFA World cup semifinals. Quinn Rooney - FIFA/FIFA via Getty ImagesKey details:Date: Sunday Venue: Moses Mabhida Stadium, Durban South Africa How to watch: The match is available on SuperSport Sage Stephens was expected to start the first leg in goal for Stellenbosch it was Oscarine Masuluke who lined up between the sticks as the skipper did not fully recover from injury in time Stephens is likely to start the second leg Lehlohonolo Mojela and Ashley Cupido are both injured but this fixture will probably come too soon for him LB Fawaaz Basadien | CB Thabo Moloisane| CB Ismaël Olivier Touré | RB Enyinnaya Godswill LM Genino Palace | CM Sihle Nduli | CM Thato Khiba | RM Devin Titus AM Lesiba Nku ST André de Jong GK Moussa Camara LB Mohamed Hussein Mohamed | CB Abdulrazack Mohamed Hamza | CB Chamou Karaboue | RB Shomari Kapombe CM Fabrice Ngoma | CM Yusuph Kagoma LW Kibu Denis | AM Jean Charles Ahoua | RW Elie Mpanzu Kibisawala ST Leonel Ateba Stellenbosch's last five games have each either been scoreless or seen only a single goal Jean Charles Ahoua has scored 12 league goals for Simba this season All three of Ahoua's CAF Confederation Cup goals this season have come in 1-0 victories for Simba Had Wekundu wa Msimbazi converted all their chances they would have enjoyed a bigger advantage but a contentious goal earned them the win This partnership represents a triumph of community-focused endeavour as the municipality and SFC in collaboration with the ACE Trust and Open Play Foundation join forces to create Stellenbosch’s true “field of dreams” The landmark collaboration represents a significant milestone in Stellenbosch FC’s commitment to Stellenbosch and the municipality’s commitment to securing the future of the Premiership franchise in the sports-rich town It will unlock inclusive economic growth and opportunity in the area while creating unprecedented opportunities for local sports people The agreement will see a bold commitment of some R395 million investment over five years in the facility SFC will manage and develop the complex over an initial 30-year term while the Stellenbosch Municipality retains ownership of this valuable public asset “We are grateful to the Municipality and the community of Stellenbosch for the opportunity to manage and develop this landmark complex over the next 30 years,” said SFC CEO Rob Benadie Football is the town’s only sport code with a professional club that plays in national leagues with men’s “The Van der Stel Complex is the ideal home for the town’s football club and SFC is privileged to bring the excitement and benefits of professional sport to the facility,” he said This collaborative approach ensures that the facility will continue to serve the broader Stellenbosch community while benefiting from substantial private investment “As responsible and trusted citizens partners and the club are investing in the Van der Stel complex with a long-term vision for a brighter future in Stellenbosch,” said Benadie “We believe sport is the empowering catalyst for progress creating lasting value in a public asset for generations to come.” The facility will be home for Stellenbosch Football Club’s teams (men’s and the Open Play Foundation’s community development programmes SFC aims to make the facility a bastion of support for its teams and a place where the local fans from all walks of life can get together and make memories We look forward to unlocking unprecedented sporting opportunities for talented youth throughout the region as the complex is transformed into a modern sport facility Maties Sport is proud to share our 2024 Annual Report and achievement across all spheres of university sport at Stellenbosch University This publication reflects our deep commitment to empowering student-athletes and creating a lasting impact through sport the Chief Director’s new vision will continue to guide us in realising the ongoing investment by the #MaroonMachine over the next five years with 2025 marking a pivotal year in our journey: not only for 2024 but a 10-year period of visionary and resilient leadership by our Chief Director It outlines our unwavering commitment to sport as a transformative force within Stellenbosch University and the higher education sector Access the full report here: https://sport.sun.ac.za/3d-flip-book/annual-report-2024/ #MatiesSport #AnnualReport2024 #ExcellenceThroughSport #FutureFocused #StellenboschUniversity © 2017 Stellenbosch University - 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