The much anticipated Asidlali Festival is upon us this weekend and the feeling of excitement is boiling over in the town of Stellenbosch.

Stellies’ DStv Diski Challenge coach Evangelos Vellios and Stellenbosch-born, assistant coach Jason Rhoda have their sights set on Saturday’s top-of-the-table clash against Orlando Pirates.

The encounter promises to be the highlight of what will be a bustling weekend in the community of Idas Valley as eight teams from across the country travel to town to partake in the festival.

“It’s a big deal,” Rhoda said ahead of the event. “It’s the second festival we’re having here in the space of two years and just the fact that they [the league] are choosing this venue [Idas Valley Stadium], already tells you there is something special about it.

“Stellenbosch FC earned their top-flight status at this ground and we as a Diski team were unbeaten here in our first season, so this is a fortress for us.

“The impact of the festival on the community is also big. It’s one thing for the community to watch players on television, but to have them play on the fields they’ve trained and grown up on is really special.

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“For the young ones of the community, watching games and seeing this, it just plants a seed for that young girl or boy. We are very proud to be hosting this festival and we are hoping we can put on a good performance for the people of Stellenbosch.”

The weekend’s match will see the top two sides in the league go head to head, with Orlando Pirates currently in the first position, three points ahead of Stellenbosch FC and with a considerable goal difference advantage.

Rhoda adds, “It is going to be a tough game. It’s never easy playing Orlando Pirates and they are sitting top of the log for a reason.

“They’ve got a very, very good group of young players and a good coach. These boys are really playing some proper, quality football and they are the highest-scoring team in the league with a goal difference of 23, so it will be an interesting battle.”

Regardless of Pirates’ apparent advantage, Rhoda insists that the team is optimistic ahead of the festival of football.

“A couple of years ago we beat them to go on to win the title in Johannesburg so we have some good memories playing against Orlando Pirates,” he said.

“This weekend will be no different with a top-of-the-table clash. There is a big incentive for both teams because if they win they go six points clear and if we win we are back level pegging.

“We are looking forward to the clash and I know the boys can put up a good showing and play with the confidence we had in the last couple of weeks. We are unbeaten for 10 games so I am hoping we can continue in that vein.”

Stellenbosch FC places a great emphasis on producing youngsters to play in the PSL team and a match like the upcoming presents an opportunity for the cream of the crop to potentially have their moment to shine.

When asked how he and coach Vellios balance the expectation of growing first-team players and winning the league, Rhoda concludes;

“The most important thing is developing these players, and the first prize is getting them through to the first team.

“In order to do that we must never separate from the importance of winning because ultimately we are preparing them for performance-based jobs where results are of the utmost importance. So we cannot separate winning from developing.

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“Ultimately we want to create good professional football players who will either play for our first team or it can also be bigger and better things, like going on to play abroad. Just look at Olwethu Makhanya who has come through our system and is now playing in America in the MLS.

“Ashley du Preez is playing at one of the biggest teams in South Africa and Jayden Adams is flying the flag high at AFCON. We are very proud of them not just because they are products of Stellenbosch FC but because they are products of the community of Stellenbosch.”

All matches will be broadcast live from the festival on Supersport channel 209. Matches to look forward to this weekend at Idas Valley Stadium include:

Saturday, 27 January 2024

• 11:00 Amazulu FC vs Chippa United
• 13:00 Stellenbosch FC vs Orlando Pirates

Sunday, 28 January 2024

• 11:00 Cape Town City FC vs Mamelodi Sundowns
• 13:00 Cape Town Spurs vs Kaizer Chiefs