Stellenbosch FC sign former Kaizer Chiefs defender Gopoland Taunyana

Gopoland Taunyana has joined Stellenbosch FC on a permanent deal after leaving Kaizer Chiefs, with the young defender becoming the latest player to move from the Soweto club to the Cape Winelands side.

Kaizer Chiefs recently announced Taunyana’s departure, and Stellenbosch FC have now confirmed the 20-year-old as part of head coach Gavin Hunt’s squad for the new season. Taunyana will wear the number 21 shirt.

His move adds to a growing group of former Amakhosi players at Stellenbosch FC. He follows Given Msimango and Ashley du Preez, who also left Kaizer Chiefs to join the club.

Taunyana said he was grateful for the opportunity to continue his development at Stellenbosch FC, a club he believes offers the right conditions for his progress on and off the pitch.

“First and foremost, I want to thank my Lord and saviour, Jesus Christ, for the opportunity, because I am very excited to join Stellenbosch FC. This is a team that is well known for development and having great facilities and coaches, so I’m grateful to be here.

“Growing as a player and a person is the most important thing for me, and I felt that this was the right step for my career and the right environment for me to grow. This is an environment where a lot of players have shone in the past, so I’m excited to go on that journey now as well.

“For the team, the thing that makes people the happiest is to compete with the best, win trophies and ultimately succeed as a team, so I hope to be able to look back one day and say we achieved that together.”

The defender’s arrival gives Stellenbosch FC another option as Hunt continues to strengthen his squad. The club’s reputation for developing players was among the main factors behind Taunyana’s decision to make the move.

He said his priority was to improve as both a footballer and an individual, and that he viewed Stellenbosch FC as an environment in which players had previously been able to make significant progress.

Taunyana also outlined his ambition for his new team, identifying competition at the highest level, winning trophies and achieving collective success as the targets that would bring the greatest satisfaction.

His permanent move brings his time with Kaizer Chiefs to an end and begins a new chapter with Stellenbosch FC. The club will hope the defender can follow the path of other players who have developed and established themselves after joining the Cape Winelands outfit.