Ashley du Preez on brink of Stellenbosch FC milestone after Chiefs return

Stellenbosch FC forward Ashley du Preez is set to make his 100th appearance for the club, placing him among an exclusive group that includes Deano van Rooyen, Rafiq de Goede, Jarrod Moroole, Iqraam Rayners and Thabo Moloisane.

The Idas Valley-born attacker is expected to reach the landmark when Stellenbosch face Lamontville Golden Arrows in the Betway Premiership at King Zwelithini Stadium on Wednesday, 26 August 2026.

Du Preez returned permanently to Stellenbosch on 4 August 2026 after spending four seasons with Kaizer Chiefs. His move back to the Winelands club followed a spell at Naturena in which he made 96 appearances in all competitions for Amakhosi.

The 29-year-old scored 19 goals and supplied six assists during his time with the Soweto giants. He was also part of the Kaizer Chiefs squad that won the 2025 Nedbank Cup, although his finishing came under scrutiny at times during his stay.

His return to Stellenbosch offers the forward an opportunity to rediscover the form he showed during his first spell with the club. Before leaving in 2022, Du Preez made 98 appearances for Stellies, scoring 15 goals and creating eight more.

He has already made an immediate impact since coming back. Du Preez scored in his first appearance after rejoining Stellenbosch, suggesting he has quickly settled into familiar surroundings.

The forward is now expected to play an important role in manager Gavin Hunt’s plans as Stellenbosch look to continue their positive momentum in the league.

Wearing the club’s number 10 shirt, Du Preez will hope to celebrate his landmark appearance with another influential display as Stellies pursue all three points against Lamontville Golden Arrows.

Reaching a century of appearances would place him alongside several notable former and current Stellenbosch players who have achieved the same feat. Deano van Rooyen, Rafiq de Goede, Jarrod Moroole and Iqraam Rayners are among those already included on the club’s appearance list, as is Thabo Moloisane.

Du Preez’s path to the milestone has included a successful first period with Stellenbosch, a high-profile move to Kaizer Chiefs and a return to the club where he initially established himself. His statistics at both clubs underline the different stages of his career: he scored 15 goals in his first 98 Stellenbosch appearances, before recording 19 goals in 96 matches for Kaizer Chiefs.

The upcoming fixture at King Zwelithini Stadium therefore carries added significance for the attacker. Should he feature, Du Preez will have the chance to mark his return to home soil by joining one of the most exclusive groups in Stellenbosch FC’s history.