Stellies consulting Premiership rivals on CAF matters

THE chief executive officer of Stellenbosch FC, Rob Benadie, says the club is consulting DStv Premiership compatriots for advice ahead of their debut campaign in CAF competitions.

Stellies’ remarkable 2023/2024 saw them rewarded with a spot in next season’s CAF Confederation Cup, after finishing third on the league standings.

The Cape Winelands-based club – in their fifth year in the top flight of domestic football – will tussle with some of the most formidable clubs on the continent.

Among the clubs mentioned when it comes to advice are Mamelodi Sundowns and Orlando Pirates (both CAF Champions League-bound), as well as SuperSport United and Marumo Gallants (both with Confed experience).

Under the stewardship of head coach Steve Barker, Stellies will look to announce their arrival on the continental stage, and have begun doing the necessary groundwork.

Speaking to the South African Football Journalists Association (SAFJA), Benadie revealed that the club has not been shy about consulting clubs with CAF experience to prepare themselves for unfamiliar territory.

“We’ve got to continue learning; we’re speaking to Sundowns, we’re speaking to Orlando Pirates, SuperSport and Marumo Gallants about their experience, as well as Sekhukhune,” he said

He added that their pool of “research” also extends as far as individuals who are not associated with any clubs, but have tasted the unsettling environments of the competitions.

“There’s quite a lot of people and administrators who are not in the game anymore that have gone through many campaigns in Africa, so we’re trying to gather as much information as we can and most of the clubs are very willing to share their experiences,” he further explained.

CAF competitions have developed somewhat of a cynical reputation over the years, with past teams and current competitors sharing varying stories of mistreatment.

Benadie admitted to having heard about several incidents, but said the club relished those conditions as opportunities to overcome.

“Obviously there’s quite a lot of daunting and negative experiences, if I can call it that, but they’re challenges,” he added.

“Do you really want to be in it because it’s gonna affect your campaign, but we’ve taken the stance that we’re gonna do our best.”

Stellies has been drawn “away” to neighbouring Nsingizini Hotspurs FC from Eswatini.

Due to Eswatini being deemed to not have pitches in a suitable condition, they will play their home fixture at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban.

The winner of the two-legged tie will take on Congolese side AS Vita in the Second Preliminary Round.

Benadie has welcomed the chance to play both fixtures on South African soil while slightly looking ahead to their next fixture if they qualify, which will take them to the Congo.

“We’ve seen the draw; we don’t take anything lightly, but we got away with quite a good draw against eSwatini team Hotspurs, who are gonna play their home games at the Moses Mabhida Stadium. So if we get through that then we play AS Vita, which will be our first big test going into Africa.”