Stellenbosch FC coach Gavin Hunt has encountered problems while preparing the club for the start of the Betway Premiership season, as the team is forced to begin its campaign away from home due to current stadium difficulties.
Match Venue Issues
Stellies were originally scheduled to host AmaZulu in their first match of the 2026/27 season, but a lack of available venues led to the postponement of this game to Durban. The club's usual home ground, Danie Craven Stadium, is unavailable because it is reserved for an international rugby tournament. Furthermore, Athlone Stadium is occupied by the New Zealand All Blacks team, who are preparing for a match against South Africa.
The DHL Stadium option also proved unsuitable, as this venue in Cape Town is scheduled to host the Currie Cup match between the DHL Stormers and Sharks. This situation compels Stellenbosch to play away for an extended period, and Hunt stated that the disruption could continue for up to two months.
Coach's Comments
Speaking at the Betway Premiership launch event in Johannesburg on Wednesday, the experienced coach expressed his disappointment with the circumstances, particularly regarding the late confirmation of the match schedule, which exacerbates the difficulties. Hunt stated: 'The frustrating part is the stadiums, the lack of a stadium to play in, which puts pressure on the team forced to play away, probably for the next two months, and you get the schedule so late that everything becomes very difficult.'
Stellenbosch had previously faced similar challenges when some home matches in the CAF Confederation Cup had to be moved to Durban due to issues with venue availability in the Western Cape. However, these latest obstacles arose at a difficult time for Hunt, who is preparing the team for its first full season since taking over the club, which was fighting for survival last season.
Strategy and Prospects
This veteran helped stabilize Stellies' position upon arriving mid-last season, and now he faces the task of rebuilding the team to a competitive level capable of challenging for a top-eight spot. Despite all the hurdles, Hunt believes that the reality of pre-season is that coaches are rarely fully ready when competitive activity begins, especially during periods of significant squad changes. He emphasized: 'I always say that if coaches say they are ready now after pre-season, they are lying, because it is impossible to have many player movements, so it is hard, but you try to do it in the short term.'
Stellenbosch has shown rapid growth in recent seasons, establishing itself as one of the country's most competitive clubs and regularly participating in continental competitions. Now, Hunt will have to rely on his experience to manage a difficult start to the season, where travel demands and limited fan support create additional strain. Although the stadium situation is beyond the coach's control, Stellenbosch's speed of adaptation could significantly influence their ambitions to return to the league leaders.
