Stellenbosch FC celebrating their league victory on Sunday in Stellenbosch. PHOTO: Facebook
Stellenbosch Football Club (FC) secured promotion to the Premier Soccer League (PSL) by winning the National Football League on Sunday with a 0-0 draw against Maccabi FC.
An emotional Steve Barker, head coach of Stellenbosch FC, says it is clear what this remarkable achievement means to the community.
“Everyone on the management and ownership did a great job” he says, “but most importantly the players stood up and have been counted. Not a single player in this group has ever won a league title.”
The team stood tall and firm on top of the league table for 23 weeks running. Barker said that he is proud of the team effort for retaining the position. “For us to have stayed on top of the league table for 23 weeks is testimony to the hard work these players have put in week in and week out. I just want to thank them, they deserve this,” Barker comments.
Barker said that the team’s discipline and dedication paid off.
“We worked hard from day one. We want to play in the big league, against the best players, we want to be in the big stadiums, we want to showcase our abilities against the best players in the country and we achieved the opportunity to do just that,” he says.
Goalkeeper Lee Langeveldt also didn’t hide his happiness.
“This is a dream come true. Not just for me as a player, but also for the soccer community of Stellenbosch. Finally, we have a professional club in the Winelands, and we are getting the systems in place to make sure that the future stars won’t need to leave to make their dreams reality,” the keeper says.
Proud club captain, Jarrod Moroole, said that the club’s promotion was a “family effort” and that everyone connected to the club should be thanked. “I actually have no words. This is so big and so special. This team did a great job and we are just grateful for everyone involved in the club, but also for the fans,” Moroole says.
“We will surely enjoy the moment, but the hard work for next season will start early in the new week,” adds Barker.
The team will be participating against teams including the Kaizer Chiefs, Orlando Pirates and Mamelodi Sundowns from next season.