After spending only one season with the club, experienced defender Brian Onyango has exited Stellenbosch FC, the club confirmed on Monday.
The centre-back joined Stellies at the start of the 2024/25 Betway Premiership season as a free agent after parting ways with Mamelodi Sundowns.
Before signing with Stellenbosch, Onyango spent four seasons with the Brazilians and won several titles, including the 2023 African Football League [AFL].
The Kenyan international made 61 appearances in all competitions at Sundowns and scored two goals. But after struggling to establish himself as a regular starter at Downs in his stay with the club, the towering defender was released at the end of last season.
Onyango joined the Maroons looking to revive his career and play regular football in the top-flight of SA. However, the former Maritzburg United workhorse could not break into the Stellenbosch starting line-up after facing tough competition from Thabo Moloisane, Athenkosi Mcaba, and Ismael Toure.
In the previous campaign, Onyango managed to feature in only eight appearances across all competitions, prompting Stellebosch to let him go after the expiry of his one-year contract.
The Western Cape-based side announced on Monday that the 30-year-old will not be part of Steve Barker’s team going into the new season. The exit comes a week after FARPost reported that Onyango was facing an uncertain future at the Winelands side.
BRIAN ONYANGO DEPARTS AFTER THE EXPIRY OF HIS CONTRACT
“Stellenbosch Football Club can confirm that Brian Onyango has departed the club following the expiration of his contract,” Stellenbosch said in a statement.
“Onyango joined Stellenbosch at the start of the 2024/25 campaign and made eight appearances across all competitions, helping the club reach the MTN8 final and qualify for the CAF Confederation Cup.
“During his time in the Cape Winelands, the towering defender also returned to the Kenya national team for the first time in nearly two years to become just the third non-South African player to represent his country while on the books of Stellenbosch.
“Despite the brevity of his stay with the Maroons, Onyango’s leadership and work ethic made him an influential figure in the dressing room and earned him a nomination for the 2024/25 SFC Sportsman of the Season award. Everyone at Stellenbosch FC would like to thank Brian for his service to the club and wish him well as he embarks on the next chapter of his career.”
Meanwhile, Stellenbosch also confirmed the departure of the former DStv Diski Challenge [DDC] captain Shaakir Ahmed following the expiry of his contract.
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