Carling Knockout Cup champions Stellenbosch FC have confirmed the signing of Chumani Butsaka from Cape Town Spurs in the Motsepe Foundation Championship.
Butsaka, who is team captain of the Urban Warriors, made 116 appearances across all competitions during his time at the club. The midfielder has also represented Bafana Bafana at the 2022 COSAFA Cup.
The Betway Premiership side released a statement on Tuesday to unveil the player for the new season. The club is bolstering its squad to compete on all fronts, including defending their Carling Cup title, participating in the league and MTN8, and making a strong push in the CAF Confederation Cup.
The addition of Butsaka comes as Stellenbosch looks to replace key departures such as Deano David van Rooyen and Iqraam Rayners. The club’s focus is on quality additions rather than simply increasing their squad size.
“We are delighted to welcome Chumani to the Club,” said Stellenbosch FC CEO Rob Benadie.
BUTSAKA JOINS STELLENBOSCH
“At 22 years of age, he has already made over 100 professional appearances and shown himself to be a leader, which is a testament to his ability and maturity on and off the field of play.
“We congratulate Cape Town Spurs on the excellent development of this player, who we believe will play a key role in the future success of our ambitious Club,” he said.
The club has also revealed that Butsaka will wear the No. 15 jersey this season. He could make his debut in the Betway Premiership season-opener against Golden Arrows on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, Shaakir Ahmed, the captain of the DStv Diski Challenge [DDC] side, has signed his first professional contract with the club.
Ahmed joined Stellenbosch FC in 2022 when he joined the club’s reserve team. He made his senior debut in March when he featured as a substitute against Royal AM.
“I feel really privileged to be a part of the squad,” the 21-year-old told the club’s website.
“I’m excited for the season ahead,” Ahmed said. “We have a good team, and I feel as though we are going to do some beautiful things together.”
Stellenbosch are on a six-game winning streak in all competitions. This includes the win against Mamelodi Sundowns in the MTN8 semi-finals. They are currently participating in the CAF Confederation Cup for a spot in the group stages.
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