Stellenbosch FC coach Gavin Hunt is not reading much into his team’s recent win over Kaizer Chiefs ahead of the two teams’ Betway Premiership showdown at FNB Stadium on Tuesday.
Exactly 20 days ago, the Cape Winelands side knocked the defending champions, Chiefs, out of the Nedbank Cup at the Last 32 stage. Before that, in October 2025, Stellenbosch were again responsible for Chiefs’ exit from the Carling KnockoutCup, although Steve Barker was still in charge.
That gives the Maroons an edge going into Tuesday’s match, although the league reverse fixture between the two sides saw the Chiefs win 2-0 in August 2025. Placed fourth, Amakhosi are still within touching distance of the Betway Premiership title.
They are trailing log leaders, Orlando Pirates, by eight points, having played two games less. Their opponents, Stellenbosch, are trying to steer clear of the relegation zone, as they sit 13th on the standings with just four points more than basement side Magesi FC.
HUNT NOT LOOKING AT PREVIOUS EXPLOITS OVER CHIEFS
Hunt is refusing to get carried away by their recent exploits over Amakhosi. He argues that they have played four games since then, a four-match winless streak, including last weekend’s defeat by Golden Arrows in the Nedbank Cup.
“The Nedbank Cup is out of the way now, so we have to concentrate on all of our league games. It’s very important for us to try to get a good result,” Hunt said.
“It’s an away game, so it’s going to be tough, but we just have to concentrate on doing the best job that we can and get the best result that we can. The previous game [against Chiefs] doesn’t have an impact at all. We’ve played four games since then, so it’s got no impact on Tuesday’s match and doesn’t come into my thought process at all.”
INJURY AND SUSPENSION CRISIS HIT STELLENBOSCH CAMP AHEAD OF CHIEFS CLASH
Hunt might be concerned about his players’ disciplinary record following red cards in each of their last three matches. Left-back Asekho Tiwani was shown red in their last CAF Confederation Cup group game against Singida Black Stars FC.
That was followed by striker Wonderboy Mkhubu being sent for an early shower in a PSL match against Magesi. Defender Thabo Moloisane was then sent off during last weekend’s Nedbank Round of 16 clash with Arrows.
That means Makhubu and Moloisane are suspended against Chiefs, with the former serving his last game of sanctions. Further giving Hunt a headache are injuries to centre-back Mosa Lebusa and Orlando Pirates loanee Tshegofatso Mabasa.
Lebusa’s injury and Moloisane’s suspension could pave the way for recent signing Olisa Ndah to make his Stellenbosch debut.
“We’ve just got to look at what we’ve got in terms of the players available for this game, because we’re monitoring the fitness of one or two players, and we’ve got a few suspensions, and try to put out the best 11 that we can,” Hunt added.
“But we’re going there [FNB Stadium to face Chiefs] with a positive mindset, there’s no two ways about that, because it’s vitally important that we get a good result tomorrow.”
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