A big weekend awaits Stellenbosch FC’s Young Maroons with the club’s DStv Diski Challenge side and U-18 team both set to be in action.

Stellies’ u-18 Engen Knockout Challenge-winning side arrived in Johannesburg on Friday to participate in the 2023 Engen Champ of Champs competition, where they have been drawn alongside Nkowankowa FC, Chippa United, Amalawu, and AmaZulu in Group A.

Head coach Jean-Pierre Farrugia expressed his excitement for this weekend’s competition, “All of us are very much looking forward to this national tournament, it is a very big occasion for our club”.

“Preparation hasn’t been the easiest, a lot of players are part of the DDC team and therefore our group is split, but we have managed to shape our form and will compete as best we can. We are a very strong and mature squad so I look forward to seeing how we will perform on the national level.”

Elsewhere, Stellies’ DDC team will be taking on Kaizer Chiefs at the FNB Stadium where they will be looking to bounce back from a 1-0 defeat to TS Galaxy in their most recent fixture.

Despite suffering that home defeat against the Rockets, last weekend was still a special one for the club as three academy graduates made their debut appearances for the reserve team.

Idas Valley-based Liam Slade, Jamestown-based Tylon Smith, and Keenan Johannesen all had the opportunity to feature, with all three players having joined the Stellenbosch FC Youth Academy when its doors opened in 2019. In his debut appearance, Johannesen was also named Player of the Match.

Kick-off for Saturday’s Diski match is at 10h00.