Stellenbosch to keep up nomadic existence

Stellenbosch have not had their Danie Craven Stadium passed fit for use for Wednesday’s Betway Premiership derby against Cape Town City and will have to keep up their nomadic existence by moving the game to the Athlone Stadium in Cape Town.

The state of Stellenbosch’s home pitch was heavily criticised after they beat TS Galaxy last month at the start of the new season in the MTN8 and since then they have played ‘home’ games at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban, the Cape Town Stadium and Athlone.

The Premier Soccer League last week inspected the Danie Craven Stadium and said it was not fit for use on Wednesday while the playing surface recovers from heavy rains and a mauling from recent rugby fixtures.

Stellenbosch had to host their opening Betway Premiership clash at the Athlone Stadium last Wednesday, suffering a surprise 2-0 loss to Lamontville Golden Arrows.

They have, however, won three of their last four ‘home’ matches away from Stellenbosch, beating Nsingizini Hotspurs of Eswatini in Durban in the second leg of their African Confederation Cup first-round tie and then Mamelodi Sundowns in the second leg of their MTN8 semifinal tie.

They then played the first leg of their Confederation Cup second-round tie against AS Vita Club of the Democratic Republic of Congo at the Cape Town Stadium and won 2-0.

Stellenbosch’s first season in the top flight of the 2019-20 campaign also saw them forced to play all their home games away from the town as they struggled to secure a venue in the Winelands.

Athlone Stadium has been their most frequent alternate venue, even last season when they moved matches against Kaizer Chiefs and Mamelodi Sundowns to Cape Town because of concerns over fan violence.

Stellenbosch arrived back home on Monday morning from DR Congo after securing a place in the group phase of the Confederation Cup after drawing 1-1 in Kinshasa in the second leg of their tie against Vita Club.

After Wednesday's derby, Stellenbosch play away at Polokwane City on Sunday and then the MTN8 final against Orlando Pirates in Durban on October 5.