Stellenbosch FC fly out to Tanzania for CAF duty after late-show heroics against Orbit College

Despite being reduced to ten players, Stellenbosch FC secured a thrilling 2–1 victory in a gripping display of tenacity over Orbit College on Wednesday evening at Olympia Park, Rustenburg.

Following Thabo Moloisane’s second-half dismissal, Stellenbosch rallied late in the game to end a three-game losing streak in the Betway Premiership. This marked their first away league victory of the season.

It came hot on the heels of a triumphant performance just days earlier, where they had defeated the Congolese side AS Otoho in the CAF Confederation Cup, albeit at a temporary home venue in Polokwane due to the unavailability of stadiums in Cape Town.

Coach Steve Barker praised his players for their resilience, highlighting the significance of the win. “It was massively important for us to get the win in the context of the league, and great for us to get our first away win of the season,” he remarked.

“Traditionally, we’ve been a good away team, but it’s been eluding us a bit this season, so hopefully this can be the start of many more away victories.”

The match took a dramatic turn two minutes from the end as Stellenbosch found themselves trailing 1–0 and having to battle it out with a man down. It was a testament to the squad’s fighting spirit that they managed to push through the adversity.

Thato Khiba sparked the stunning late resurgence by equalising with a spectacular goal in the 89th minute, igniting hope and momentum for Stellenbosch. Moments later, Athenkosi Mcaba scored the winner in the 92nd minute — his first goal for the club — sealing a plot worthy of any football fairytale.

The performance showcased not just talent, but a never-say-die attitude. Barker elaborated:

“Once again, the team showed a never-say-die attitude and great resilience. They just kept plugging away. I knew that if we could get one goal, we could get the second, but we left it late, as we did in our last match with an injury-time winner.”

Looking ahead, Stellenbosch will take to the skies on Thursday to journey to Tanzania for their upcoming CAF Confederation Cup Group C match against Singida Black Stars. The team will aim to carry forward the winning momentum developed from their recent triumph over the Congolese side AS Otoho.

As a key member of the team’s defence, Moloisane’s absence will loom large as they engage in the continental competition; he will not be part of the journey due to his red card. Nevertheless, Barker remains optimistic that this turnaround will bolster the team’s confidence moving forward.

“Hopefully, these two wins can give us the trust and belief in what we are doing, and that we can just continue improving going forward,” he concluded.