Against the odds, gritty Stellenbosch FC tackle travel woes ahead of North African showdown

With tight schedules and new signings, Stellenbosch FC must balance their CAF aspirations amidst the challenges of travel fatigue.

Stellenbosch impressively overcame a series of home-ground challenges over the past two seasons. Still, as the new 2026 season kicks off, the Winelands side finds itself embarking on a gruelling travel itinerary.

Less than a week into the season, on Monday, Stellenbosch trekked an exhausting 1,800 kilometres to Polokwane for Tuesday’s Betway Premiership match against Sekhukhune United. This arduous journey was followed by a return trip to Stellenbosch just 24 hours later, on Wednesday, ahead of their next commitment on Sunday.

After a brief light training session on Thursday morning, the team flew out to Algeria in preparation for their CAF Confederation Cup clash against CR Belouizdad on Sunday. This fast-paced schedule could pose serious challenges to the squad’s readiness.

Integrated into this mix is the tactical acumen of the opposing coach, Sead Ramović, who has an intricate understanding of South African football after his successful two-year stint with TS Galaxy.

Currently sitting in second place in the Algerian league, Belouizdad trails leaders MC Alger by a significant 12 points. They have three points from their opening two group-stage matches, making this encounter critical for both teams. Stellenbosch lead the log by four points after a win and a draw.

With pressure mounting, Stellenbosch are keen to see the debut of newly acquired players Kobamelo Kodisang and Mosa Lebusa, both from Mamelodi Sundowns. However, the two have faced limitations in training time since joining the squad alongside Tshegofatso Mabasa, who was already match-fit upon arrival.

Coach Gavin Hunt finds himself in a challenging situation, wrestling with tactical identity and fitness for his new signings.

“We’re short upfront as you can see from the match in Polokwane,” Hunt assessed post-match, underscoring his concerns after having to deploy midfielder Devin Titus in an unfamiliar forward role in the absence of adequate striking options.

With only two designated strikers, the coach aims to increase offensive depth, indicating a need for at least three to four more attackers and wide players to bolster the team’s potential.

“The January window is always the worst window to try and get players because people don’t want to let their players go,” Hunt explained, candidly discussing the challenges of the transfer market. “I’ve got to get the squad better, and I’ve got to make the players better with what I’ve got, without crying too much.”

Adding to the complexity of the situation, Hunt expressed frustrations regarding the fitness levels of the new arrivals, who may have trained sporadically with previous clubs.

“When these players come from these clubs, they haven’t trained. They say they trained, but you know, they’ve got big squads, so they train on the side that’s not training,” he said, highlighting the urgency and tactical adjustments the team must navigate.

As Stellenbosch FC gears up for this critical phase of the season, the dual challenge is maintaining performance amid demanding travel and the championship grind.

The squad is facing up to that challenge, which shows the club’s resilience and ambition as they head off for a crucial showdown on the continental stage.