A calf injury will keep Stellenbosch goalkeeper Sage Stephens out for the rest of the season, club officials said as the Cape outfit chase a third-place finish in the Betway Premiership and another tilt at African club competition next season.
Stephens suffered the injury in the warm-up ahead of the second leg of the African Confederation Cup quarterfinal tie against Egyptian giants Zamalek last month although he played in the match where a clean sheet saw Stellenbosch win 1-0 and advance to the semifinals.
But Oscarine Masuluke has kept goal for the club’s last five games, including the 1-0 aggregate defeat to Simba of Tanzania in the semifinal tie and their three successive league victories over AmaZulu, Chippa United and 3-0 at Lamontville Golden Arrows on the weekend.
Scans have revealed the extent of Stephens’ injury means he is out for the rest of the campaign as Stellenbosch battle with Sekhukhune United for third place in the final standings.
Coach Steve Barker has made it clear that he and his players would like to have another effort at the continental club competition next season after the heartbreak of getting as far as the semifinals but then being eliminated.
They will qualify for the Confederation Cup again only if they finish third but trail Sekhukhune United by one point.
Stellenbosch, however, have a game in hand over third placed Sekhukhune and therefore control their own fate and will make sure of third place if they win all three of their remaining Betway Premiership clashes.
It will not be easy, though, next up against champions Mamelodi Sundowns in Pretoria on Sunday, followed by more by tough clashes against relegation-threatened SuperSport United and Cape Town City.