Stellenbosch Football Club (FC) recently retired the former U20 team captain, Oshwin Andries’s number 25 jersey and renamed an award in his honour. This was according to Liam Bekker, head of media & stakeholder relations, for Stellenbosch FC.
Stellenbosch Football Club (FC) honoured the late Oshwin Andries’s legacy through retiring his jersey, number 25, and renaming the Young Player of the Season award after him, said Liam Bekker head of media & stakeholder relations for Stellenbosch FC. PHOTO: Thameenah Daniels
Commemoration by Stellenbosch FC
Oshwin Andries passed away on 4 February 2023. The decision to retire the jersey and rename the Young Player of the Season award in Andries’s honour was announced by Stellenbosch FC’s CEO, Rob Benadie, at a memorial service on 14 February, said Bekker. The service was held at Andries’s former primary school, Rietenbosch Primary School in Cloetesville.
Stellenbosch FC unveiled a new banner of Andries during their most recent match, against Mamelodi Sundowns, on 5 March. The banner will be on display at each home game that takes place “moving forward”, stated Bekker.
“Oshwin’s family were invited to the pitch at the Danie Craven Stadium for the unveiling, where Rob Benadie also presented them with a pennant bearing all of Oshwin’s honours, as well as a signed match ball from his final match,” added Bekker.
Stellenbosch Football Club hosts their home games at the Danie Craven Stadium, according to Liam Bekker, head of media & stakeholder relations for Stellenbosch FC. PHOTO: Thameenah Daniels
“We are very grateful for [the commemoration],” said Lee-Irwin Andries, brother of Andries. “It just shows the important impact and amount of talent he had.” He said his brother’s success over just two seasons, showed what he could still have achieved.
How he will be remembered
“Oshwin influenced and motivated a lot of young people, even myself, to do better and to believe in yourself and most importantly, trust in God,” said Cleo Sassman, a friend of Andries.
“One thing about Oshwin… [he] lived his life to the fullest and he was a jolly person,” said Sassman. “He never cared what people thought of him or what people said about him.” According to Sassman, Oshwin was happy when he could do what he loved, and that was to play soccer.
Stellenbosch Football Club wanted to ensure that Oshwin Andries will be honoured for years to come, said Liam Bekker Head of Media & Stakeholder Relations for Stellenbosch FC. PHOTO: Thameenah Daniels
The Andries family thanked Stellenbosch FC for the way in which the club commemorated Oshwin, said Lee-Irwin.
“As the Andries family we want to say thank you. Everything Stellenbosch is trying to do for us, not just now, from the beginning since Oshwin started in the academy – trying to develop him, trying to get the best for him… We want to say that we as a family are very grateful to Stellenbosch Football Club,” stated Lee-Irwin.