Gavin Hunt faces stadium and squad turmoil as Stellenbosch FC start title race on the road

Stellenbosch FC coach Gavin Hunt will launch the club’s 2026-27 Betway Premiership campaign with no home stadium, a depleted squad and mounting transfer speculation over star midfielder Langelihle Phili, as they face AmaZulu in Durban on Saturday.

The Western Cape side, who were originally due to host Usuthu, have been stripped of home advantage after being forced to move the fixture to Durban because neither of their usual venues is available.

Danie Craven Stadium cannot be used due to an international rugby tournament, while Athlone Stadium is occupied by the touring New Zealand All Blacks as they prepare for their South African tour, leaving Stellies without a base at the start of the league season.

“The frustrating part is the stadiums, not having a stadium to play at, always playing away,” Hunt said. “It puts a lot of pressure on us.”

Key players depart as Phili interest intensifies

Hunt must also contend with a substantial squad reshuffle following the exit of several important players ahead of the opener.

Thabo Moloisane, Ibraheem Jabaar, Mthetheleli Mthiyane and Omega Mdaka have all left the club, while the high-profile departure of Thapelo Mokobodi to Orlando Pirates has further reduced the depth available to the former league-winning coach.

Complicating matters further, highly rated youngster Phili has been strongly linked with a move to Kaizer Chiefs, with ongoing speculation casting a shadow over Stellenbosch’s build-up.

“Obviously, you don’t want to lose the player, he is one of the hottest properties in South Africa,” Hunt said of Phili’s situation.

“But obviously, contractual circumstances come into play. There has been a lot of media speculation about his future. We will see what happens over the next few days.”

Hunt admits pre-season uncertainty

The 60-year-old coach, who took charge of Stellenbosch tasked with keeping them competitive against the league’s biggest clubs, described a turbulent pre-season dominated by player movement and logistical problems.

“If a coach says they are prepared after pre-season, they are lying,” Hunt said.

“You are never prepared after pre-season, because there is a lot happening, with player movements in and out. It’s been a difficult period from that perspective, but you try and put it together.

“Hopefully we can hit the ground running. That’s football, the demands are more, the pressure is more. You just have to take it one step at a time.”

Despite the disruptions, Hunt insisted that the focus must remain on making Stellenbosch competitive from the outset of the campaign, even if he is reluctant to talk up their prospects.

Realism over silverware ambitions

Asked whether he is targeting trophies this season, Hunt pointed to the strength of the country’s leading clubs and stressed the need to manage expectations.

“How are you going to compete against the two giants right now?” he replied, in an apparent reference to the league’s biggest spenders.

“We obviously want to compete and we will compete in every game we play. But you need to be realistic, get the squad playing and try to get as many points as we can. That always gives you momentum.”

With no home ground to call on for their opener, several influential players gone and one of South Africa’s most coveted youngsters potentially nearing the exit, Stellenbosch will begin the new Betway Premiership season under considerable strain.

However, Hunt’s emphasis on realism, resilience and accumulating points suggests Stellies will attempt to grind their way through the early challenges as they look to establish momentum in a campaign already shaped by adversity before a ball has been kicked.