Stellenbosch FC's Rob Benadie optimistic about new season amid Fawaaz Basadien speculation
Image: BackpagePix
Stellenbosch FC CEO Rob Benadie has shared his enthusiasm for the upcoming season, highlighting the club's commitment to a stable and efficient squad.
In an interview with Independent Media, Benadie expressed confidence that the groundwork laid in previous seasons would serve the club well as they head into the new campaign. There has been limited player turnover and continuity within the technical staff.
"I'm feeling optimistic for the season," Benadie stated. "Our squad is currently well settled and complete, but of course, it is a long transfer window and there are always a few surprises."
Goalkeeper Sage Stephens of Stellenbosch with the club's CEA Rob Benadie. Photo: Backpagepix
Image: Backpagepix
Video Player is loading.
Play Video
Play
Unmute
Current Time
0:00
/
Duration
-:-
Loaded :
0%
Stream Type LIVE
Seek to live, currently behind live
LIVE
Remaining Time
-
0:00
This is a modal window.
Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window.
Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque
Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps
Reset
restore all settings to the default values Done
Close Modal Dialog
End of dialog window.
Advertisement
Next
Stay
Close ✕
Ad loading
He reflected a calm confidence, reinforcing the idea that the club is well prepared to tackle the challenges that lie ahead.
However, the competitive landscape for South African football clubs is shifting. With the apparent struggles leading to the demise of local rivals Cape Town Spurs and Cape Town City, Benadie acknowledged the impact this may have on player availability.
"There seem to be many more players released from clubs this year. We will keep abreast of player opportunities given the current marketplace," he explained.
The club is ready to capitalise on any opportunities that may arise from this evolving environment.
Reflecting on the past season, when Stellenbosch FC played a record 51 matches, Benadie noted their ambition to replicate this feat.
A goal forever etched in our history books 📜
Thank you and good luck, Ismaël 👋 pic.twitter.com/ar2rFwfyym — Stellenbosch FC (@StellenboschFC) July 5, 2025
"We will keep our feet on the ground and work smart and hard. The results from this past season are a great example of how quickly a club's fortunes can change for the worse," he cautioned, highlighting the volatile nature of football.
In addition to domestic challenges, Benadie expressed excitement about the prospect of competing in African tournaments again.
"We look forward to the privilege of competing in Africa again and truly hope we can play more of the matches in the Cape this time," he remarked.
Nevertheless, this comes with a caveat. While participation enhances the club's profile, it also has financial implications.
"It's a great tournament for the club's image, but it cost us a few million, even after reaching the semi-finals. That's not a good or sustainable model — except for the organisers," he emphasised.
Benadie also shared his sentiments on missing the Cape derbies, wishing for a brighter future for the city's other clubs.
"We will miss our Cape derbies and hope to have our neighbours back in the Premiership soon." His comments resonate with a shared desire among the Mother City's football fans for a competitive atmosphere that fosters community pride and excitement.
Meanwhile, speculation is mounting around the future of Fawaaz Basadien, the experienced Stellenbosch FC left-back. The PSL standout has caught the attention of several top South African clubs, with heavyweights Mamelodi Sundowns, Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates reportedly in pursuit of his signature.
Despite the frenzy of transfer talk, Stellenbosch FC remains resolutely tight-lipped about the potential for a move.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The South African
16 minutes ago
- The South African
Kaizer Chiefs opinion: Identity crisis deepens, urgency must follow
Kaizer Chiefs may boast one of the richest legacies in South African football, but the present-day version of the club feels increasingly unrecognizable. For the Amakhosi faithful, the past few seasons have been filled with misfires, mismanagement, and mediocrity. And unless Kaizer Chiefs act fast — not just in the transfer market, but culturally — they risk becoming a shadow of their former selves. While Kaizer Chiefs have shown flickers of ambition, including pursuing youth talent like Neo Rapoo, nothing yet suggests a cohesive long-term vision. The club still lacks a modern football identity that fans can believe in. There was a time when simply wearing the Chiefs badge commanded respect. But now, the club feels more reactive than proactive. Rivals like Mamelodi Sundowns have carved out structured systems, philosophies, and pipelines of talent. Meanwhile, Kaizer Chiefs continue to operate on nostalgia and urgency rather than vision. If Kaizer Chiefs want to compete, they must do more than just sign players — they need to become a club with direction again. That starts at the top. This is not just a transfer issue. It's a cultural one. Chiefs must decide who they are and what they want to be — before the brand power fades and the faithful walk away. Because the longer the identity crisis lasts, the more distant the glory days become. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 0211. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
The South African
26 minutes ago
- The South African
Kaizer Chiefs prepare for Dutch warm-up match: How to watch LIVE
Kaizer Chiefs will play their first pre-season training match against Dutch first division side Vitesse on Tuesday, 8 July. Kick-off will be at 19:00 (SA time). The match will take place at Sportpark Driel in Driel. For Amakhosi fans living in Holland – or elsewhere in Europe – who would like to attend Kaizer Chiefs' training game, tickets can be bought online: The entrance fee will cost €10 per person, while kids until the age of 16 will pay only €5. The match will be streamed live on the Kaizer Chiefs YouTube Channel. The training match is the first of five for the Glamour Boys ahead of the 2025/26 season. Date Opponent Time 8 July SBV Vitesse Arnhem 19:00 11 July FC Utrecht 16:00 12 July NEC Nijmegen 14:00 15 July PEC Zwolle 19:00 16 July FC Twente 19:00 Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
The South African
30 minutes ago
- The South African
Orlando Pirates transfer news: Bucs pushing to sign Bafana man
Orlando Pirates are reportedly close to signing a Stellenbosch FC star. The Buccaneers are ringing the changes following the conclusion of last season. Abdeslam Ouaddou has already welcomed a host of new signings, and more are to follow! READ MORE • Orlando Pirates cut ties with fan-favourite worth R14.5 million! READ MORE • Sundowns set to complete record R25 million PSL transfer deal! According to the latest transfer reports, 26-year-old Stellenbosch and Bafana Bafana defender Thabo Moloisane is closing in on a move to Soweto. Moloisane has been a top performer for Stellenbosch over the past two seasons. 'Orlando Pirates are apparently looking at bringing in Thabo Moloisane to strengthen and bolster the squad and have a well-balanced squad as the club are building a strong squad to compete in all the tournaments this season including fighting for the league title,' an insider told Soccer Laduma . A second source told the same publication that Pirates have already opened talks with Stellenbosch! Moloisane made 26 league appearances for Stellenbosch last season. On top of that, he made 14 CAF Confederations Cup appearances on the continent for them. Lastly, he made six domestic cup competition appearances for Steve Barker's side. The towering centre-back is currently valued at approximately R20 million as per Transfermarkt . That means Orlando Pirates will have to table an impressive offer to lure him to Mayfair from Stellenbosch. READ MORE • Kaizer Chiefs sign second Euro-based player in R4.2 million deal! Do you think it's a good move for Thabo Moloisane? If he does indeed join Orlando Pirates, will he get regular game-time at the Buccaneers? Let us know by clicking on the comment tab below this article or by emailing info@ or sending a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1. You can also follow @ TheSAnews on X and The South African on Facebook for the latest news.
