Stellenbosch Season Review: Stellies retain CAF spot despite losing key players

Bafana Bafana striker Iqraam Rayners joined Mamelodi Sundowns, and right-back Deano van Rooyen moved to Orlando Pirates, but the club managed to keep star left-back Fawaaz Basadien for the 2024/25 season.

The team also signed winger Sanele Barns from Richards Bay, striker Lehlohonolo Mojela from TS Galaxy and veteran Kenyan defender Brian Onyango, 30, who joined as a free agent after leaving Sundowns.

The Western Cape outfit began the 2024/25 season in excellent form, winning their opening six fixtures in all competitions and only conceding one goal.

Stellies suffered their first defeat of the season against Golden Arrows in a 2-0 loss in Durban before advancing to the CAF Confederation Cup group stage, having already set up a MTN8 Cup final against Orlando Pirates.

On 24 May, new striker Mojela opened the scoring in the 2024/25 MTN8 Cup final at the Moses Mabhida stadium before Pirates replied with three goals to retain the top eight title.

Coach Steve Barker's team then responded by eliminating Amazulu in the Carling Knockout Cup Round of 16 and winning two of their next three Betway Premiership matches.

In September the club announced that impressive 22-year-old winger Antonio van Wyk had been sold to Austrian side SV Reid, adding to the exodus of key players during the 2024/25 campaign.

The team struggled for consistency between November and December, getting knocked out of the Carling Knockout quarterfinals by Marumo Gallants before losses in their CAF Confederation Cup group clashes.

The new year started with convincing 2-0 wins against CD Luanda Sul and Stade Malien respectively, securing a CAF Confederation Cup quarter-final clash against Egyptian giants Zamalek.

Stellies were then hammered 5-0 by RS Berkane in their final group match, before the team thrashed Amazulu by the same score in their very next league clash.

In late January, the club sold key midfielder Jayden Adams to Mamelodi Sundowns, signing Thato Khiba from TS Galaxy and Lesiba Nku from Sundowns to boost their midfield.

Coach Steve Barker's team continued to pick up valuable points in the Betway Premiership, remaining unbeaten in their next seven league matches

Despite a 3-1 loss against Kaizer Chiefs in the Nedbank Cup quarterfinals, Stellenbosch shocked African football by eliminating Zamalek in their two-legged CAF Confederation Cup quarter-final.

However, the boys from the winelands would fall short in their semi-finals against a Fadlu Davids coached Simba SC, losing 1-0 on aggregate.

A strong finish from the team saw them overtake Sekhukhune United for third spot, losing just one of their last five matches to qualify for next year's CAF competition.

Here are a few key stats from Stellies season:

Key player                  - Devin Titus (20 goal contributions - 13 goals, 7 assists)
Top goalscorer          - Devin Titus (13 goals)
Most minutes            - Thabo Moloisane (4069 minutes played)
Clean sheets             - 24 (Sage Stephens - 17, Oscarine Masuluke - 7)