Since their promotion to the DStv Premiership in the 2018/19 season, Stellenbosch FC have been actively supplying some of Gauteng's biggest clubs with a number of talented players, who have either been groomed in the side's esteemed academy or recruited through their extensive networking system. It is a modus operandi that has seen them bring in some phenomenal talents over the years. This season is no different. The Siya crew has, through reliable sources, been informed that Gauteng's biggest clubs, in Kaizer Chiefs, Orlando Pirates and Mamelodi Sundowns, have cast their eyes on some of the Carling Knockout champions' players once more. With a number of the Cape Winelands outfit's players managing to attract some serious interest, we take a look at those that could possibly be making a switch to the City of Gold.
What The Siya Crew Has Been Told...
The latest news reaching this publication is that Kaizer Chiefs, Orlando Pirates and Mamelodi Sundowns are the three clubs sniffing around in the Winelands… and no, it's not Stellenbosch's impeccable wine they're after! Rather, it is the roster of players at coach Steve Barker's disposal that has managed to grab the attention of the so-called Big Three, who are looking to strengthen their own squads. In the last three seasons, Amakhosi and the Brazilians, in particular, have pried Stellies' best talent. The likes of Ashley Du Preez, Zitha Kwinika and Sibongiseni Mthethwa have switched their allegiance to Naturena. Meanwhile, Junior Mendieta has exchanged Maroon for Downs' Yellow and Blue, where he has already lifted a trophy in the form of the African Football League. Now, insiders have revealed that the likes of Deano Van Rooyen, Sage Stephens, Jayden Adams, Fawaaz Basadien, Iqraam Rayners and Thabo Maloisane have all attracted interest from the well-supported sides! The six players have unsurprisingly been Stellenbosch FC's best players so far this season, playing a crucial role in guiding the club to their maiden topflight trophy, the Carling Knockout. And now, their performances have caught the attention of their Gauteng counterparts. The Glamour Boys, the Siya crew understands, are believed to keen on Stephens, Rayners, Maloisane, Basadien, Antonio Van Wyk and Adams. According to insiders, Sundowns, who have changed their recruitment system to keep up with the demands of their rigorous schedule, are believed to be keen on Basadien and Adams. According to the information made available to the Siya crew, Bucs, meanwhile, have earmarked Maloisane, Van Rooyen as well as Adams. Stellies, to their credit, have been astute in the way they conduct their business when it comes to transfers and have parted ways with players at the right time, for the right price, and knowing that they have a replacement in mind to continue their impressive growth in the topflight. Insiders have confirmed that the club is are not intent on losing their best players for free either. To momentarily deflect interest, they have offered the likes of Adams and Devon Titus new contracts, while they have exercised the option on that of Basadien. Soccer Laduma reported late last year that talks were ongoing over a new deal for Stephens, while Van Rooyen and Rayners are tied down to long-term contracts.
What Are The Facts?
Over the last three seasons, the Winelands-based side have lost the likes of Kwinika, Mthethwa, Du Preez and Mendieta to Chiefs and Sundowns respectively. Meanwhile, Olwethu Makhanya was sold to Philadelphia Union in the MLS. For those players, the club, as reported by this publication, accumulated over R43 million in transfer fees! Du Preez, at the time of his transfer, was the club's talisman and go-to man for goals. However, Stellies managed to rake in more than R10 million in transfer fees from the Naturena-based club. Mendieta was the heartbeat of everything positive from a Stellenbosch perspective, embodying the passion and zeal shown by the young team. The transfer of the Argentine came as a surprise. However, his was great business considering that he was entering the last year of his contract with the club. His release clause, which was in the region of R12 million, was activated by the Tshwane giants. The Steve Barker-led side pulled off yet another transfer masterstroke with the sale of Sibongiseni 'Ox' Mthethwa to the Village. Siya sources have indicated that the Soweto giants triggered his release clause, which was in the region of R10 million. Makhanya, who was on the wanted list of Downs, was sold for a transfer fee of around R10 million! More impressive from Stellies was the contingency plan in place for the outgoing players. For Du Preez, the likes of Titus and the return of Rayners filled the void, while Van Rooyen, who played as a winger, filled the right-back berth in place of Kwinika.
Adams, who is currently in Ivory Coast on Africa Cup of Nations duty with Bafana Bafana due to his excellent form, hasn't put a foot wrong since being entrusted with the responsibility of filling Mendieta's void, while Genino Palace, who was recruited from Maritzburg United, has been a shoo-in replacing Mthethwa. The Western Cape side has been heavily reliant on the six players who have piqued the interest of the Gauteng teams, yet history has taught us that the club appear to think three steps ahead, especially when it comes to losing their best players. Coach Barker, late last year, also revealed the club's plans to eventually cease from selling their best players. "We create opportunity, we don't buy it. We are starting to see the rewards of investing in young players and giving young players an opportunity. I think we are laying a really good foundation, and it can be seen with players who have gone, but we still have an ability to be competitive. There is now a core group of players that the club needs to keep if we want to be successful. Players like Jayden Adams and Titus. Hopefully they are committed to the club and want to be here for a long-term as they've shown by signing long contracts. "If we show we can win trophies and we show we can compete at the top end of the table, then there's no reason for players to want to leave. Why would you want to go to a bigger club that is not challenging and winning things? So, hopefully by being successful and doing what we are doing, this is where players would want to be. It's important we keep our core of players who have come through the ranks," he told journalists.
The Story Behind The Scenes
Chiefs are in the race
With the club desperately in search of silverware, having last won a trophy eight years and eight months ago, they have shown via their latest signings a desire to get back to their best. So far, Amakhosi have signed three players from Stellies with varying success. Apart from his injuries, Du Preez has shown that he can mix it up with the big boys in Gauteng and has been inspiring whenever fit. However, the same cannot be said for Kwinika. He had a bright start upon his Chiefs homecoming under Arthur Zwane – but a number of disappointing displays, particularly in big matches, saw him eventually lose his place. The defender didn't feature much under Molefi Ntseki and has played second fiddle under Cavin Johnson, who seems to have found his winning formula, which doesn't include the 29-year-old. As for Mthethwa, he has shown in glimpses what he is capable of, but the fact that he lost his place in Bafana Bafana following his move to Naturena tells you all you need to know about how he has progressed since making the switch at the start of the season. The Soweto giants have shown that they are willing to spend a transfer fee for a player who fits the club's ambitions as in the case of Du Preez, Kwinika and Mthethwa, and it will be no different in the club's pursuit of Stephens, Rayners, Maloisane, Basadien and Adams.
Sundowns to flex their muscle?
That they could spend R12 million on a player, in Mendieta, who had one year left on his contract speaks to the Brazilians' ability to pull out all the stops to land their target. Siya sources have indicated that the club is keen on Basadien and Adams, both of whom fit into the mould they are looking for. The Siya crew understands that both Chiefs and the Downs have expressed an interest in Basadien, though the latter have dangled a bigger carrot in front of the former Moroka Swallows man. Adams, meanwhile, is said to have found a big admirer in Rhulani Mokwena, who has been following his progress. With the Tshwane giants believed to be keen on both players, you can expect them to stop at nothing – not even hefty price tags and a player or two in the mix – to land their targets.
Pirates on a mission of their own
To date, the Buccaneers have only signed one player from Stellenbosch, and that was Nkanyiso Zungu, whose career there sadly fizzled out. But Siya sources are adamant that the club is keen to change that. Having faced Barker's charges on a number of occasions already this season, Pirates have had a first-hand experience of what the team is capable of. Rumours have been growing louder about the Houghton-based outfit's increased interest in club captain Van Rooyen, who has been stellar at right back. Another player who has attracted interest from the club is Thabo Moloisane. He has found a new lease on life since joining Stellies and has been their most-used player this season. The coach has placed his full trust in the tough-as-nails defender and it's easy to see why.
Stellies in full control
The Carling Knockout champions have learnt their lesson about tying down players to contracts. Back in 2021, they lost their talismanic striker and top goal scorer Rayners to SuperSport United on a free transfer, with the player penning a pre-contract with Matsatsantsa. Since then, they have remained firmly in control of player contracts, particularly those in demand. With five of their players, in Mendieta, Makhanya, Du Preez, Kwinika and Mthethwa, they have either managed to fetch a hefty transfer fee for the player, or exercised the option on their contract to ensure that they could be sold at a profit. As things stand, Stellies have Basadien, Van Rooyen, Adams, Rayners, Van Wyk, Maloisane on long-term contracts, with that of Stephens the only one to be resolved.
Watch This Space
In the current landscape, what we have been told and what Siya sources are indicating is that Stellenbosch are keen to hold onto their players as far as they possibly can, though they are aware of growing interest in their prized possessions. It is unlikely that they will sell all of the players to Gauteng clubs. Insiders have informed Soccer Laduma that Stellies do know when to part ways with players and will be strategic in who they let go depending on their squad structure. The club is also not desperate to make sales, and although they are essentially a 'selling club', they have produced some excellent business in recent years, raking in over R43 million in transfer sales for just five players. At this point, they hold all the cards… and if they are to be raided by Gauteng's Big Three, it will certainly be on their own terms.
