Stellenbosch FC set to hand Given Msimango and Kgaogelo Ramush debuts against Marumo Gallants

Former Kaizer Chiefs defender Given Msimango is expected to make his Stellenbosch FC debut when Gavin Hunt’s side face Marumo Gallants at Athlone Stadium on Friday.

The Betway Premiership match, which kicks off at 19:30, will be Stellenbosch’s first fixture in the Western Cape this season, although the club will not be able to return to its usual home venue, the Danie Craven Stadium.

Instead, Athlone Stadium will host the game as Stellenbosch continue to deal with an unsettled home schedule. Through no fault of their own, the club have played home matches in the Eastern Cape, Pretoria and KwaZulu-Natal during the past two years.

Their opening match of the new season was staged at the Sugar Ray Xulu Stadium in Durban last weekend, a venue only 20 minutes from AmaZulu’s base. Stellenbosch then earned a point in midweek after a thrilling 3-3 draw away to Polokwane City.

The disruption has made it difficult for the club to build momentum among their loyal support base in the Winelands. However, the opportunity to play in Cape Town has lifted the mood within Hunt’s squad, even if only a small number of their own supporters are able to attend.

“We’re looking forward to tomorrow’s game,” Stellenbosch FC forward Chumani Butsaka said. “It’s our first game at home,and we’re excited to try to put on an entertaining performance for the fans.

“They are an extra player for us. When we’re down, they’re the ones who pull us up,so I think they will play a big role. And we’re in Cape Town,so it’s important that the opponents feel it.”

Stellenbosch have collected one point from their opening two games, but Butsaka believes the performance against Polokwane City has provided confidence before the meeting with Marumo Gallants, one of his former clubs.

“Marumo Gallants are a good team,but we’re up for the challenge,” he said. “We showed in the last game against Polokwane City that we can create a lot of chances and score from them.

“If we can keep doing that and avoid conceding as easily,we’ll have a good chance of coming away with all three points.

“Scoring three goals away from home last time,and finding the goals to come from behind twice in the match,was a big confidence booster for us and shows that we have the right character.”

Hunt is likely to give debuts to Msimango and Kgaogelo Ramush after the pair joined Stellenbosch during the off-season. The coach will hope they can make an immediate contribution similar to that of fellow new arrival Sinoxolo Kwayiba.

The former Chippa United striker scored his first goal for Stellenbosch against Polokwane City, also known as Rise and Shine, and will be targeting another goal against Marumo Gallants on Friday evening.

“I am also happy that I was able to get my first goal in the Stellies jersey. As a striker,you want to score as many goals as you can,so I always just keep working hard to make sure that if I get a chance,I am able to take it,” Kwayiba said.

“Thanks must also go to my teammates for always supporting me,and I believe there is more to come. This is just the beginning of many more to come.”