Stellenbosch FC will play host to Chippa United in the opening match of the 2023/24 DStv Diski Challenge season after the fixture list was officially released this past weekend.

Stellies’ 2023/24 DStv Diski Challenge campaign is set to get underway this weekend when Evangelos Vellios’ side welcomes Chippa United to Idas Valley for the opening match of the season.

“I’m very excited. Obviously, after the first few games you will get a feel for each other and the teams will get to know who is who, but I like to believe that we will be a competitor this season,” Vellios said.

“I always tell the players when we go into a competition, ‘If your mentality is not that you are going to win, then why are you competing?’ That goes without saying for me.

“When you make the step up to the PSL level, livelihoods can be determined by results so the players have to be able to handle the pressure, so we do crank up the pressure to try and prepare players for that.

“I would like to say that we will fight for a spot in the top four, and if we’re fighting for a spot in the top four, then I’d like to believe we’re fighting for the title as well.

“That’s our ambition and  we’re playing at home at Idas Valley on Saturday so it will be great to see people come out and watch and support because we’ve got an exciting team.”

Stellies opening five fixtures of the 2023/24 DStv Diski Challenge season:

Saturday, 9 September 2023 – Stellenbosch FC v Chippa United – Idas Valley Sports Ground – 10h00
Sunday, 17 September 2023 – Cape Town City v Stellenbosch FC – Malta Park Sports Complex – 10h00
Sunday, 24 September 2023 – Stellenbosch FC v TS Galaxy – Idas Valley Sports Ground – 12h00
Saturday, 30 September 2023 – Kaizer Chiefs v Stellenbosch FC – FNB B Field – 10h00
Sunday, 8 October 2023 – Stellenbosch FC v Cape Town Spurs – Idas Valley Sports Ground – 10h00