STELLENBOSCH (APRIL 2, 2025) – Stellenbosch Football Club (SFC) is delighted that Stellenbosch Municipality has accepted the Club’s bid to operate and develop the Van der Stel Sports Complex.

This partnership represents a triumph of community-focused endeavour as the municipality and SFC, in collaboration with the ACE Trust and Open Play Foundation, join forces to create Stellenbosch’s true “field of dreams”.

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The landmark collaboration represents a significant milestone in Stellenbosch FC’s commitment to Stellenbosch and the municipality’s commitment to securing the future of the Premiership franchise in the sports-rich town. It will unlock inclusive economic growth and opportunity in the area while creating unprecedented opportunities for local sports people.

The agreement will see a bold commitment of some R395 million investment over five years in the facility. SFC will manage and develop the complex over an initial 30-year term while the Stellenbosch Municipality retains ownership of this valuable public asset.

“We are grateful to the Municipality and the community of Stellenbosch for the opportunity to manage and develop this landmark complex over the next 30 years,” said SFC CEO Rob Benadie.

Football is the town’s only sport code with a professional club that plays in national leagues with men’s, women’s and youth teams. “The Van der Stel Complex is the ideal home for the town’s football club, and SFC is privileged to bring the excitement and benefits of professional sport to the facility,” he said.

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This collaborative approach ensures that the facility will continue to serve the broader Stellenbosch community while benefiting from substantial private investment.

The proposed development plan includes:

• Football facilities including a 5,000-seat stadium (upgradable to 10,000 seats in future phases), four international standard full-size grass football fields, and six multi-purpose small-sided fields/courts.
• A sports high school for 200 learners, a 150-bed residence for student-athletes, a 300-meter grass athletics track. The school will offer excellent education and the highest quality coaching to learners for a number of sporting codes. The ACE Trust will secure full bursaries for deserving learners, while also being accessible to other talented youth on a commercial basis.
• Parking infrastructure with a multi-storey parking facility with 600-800 bays.

“As responsible and trusted citizens, our shareholders, partners and the club are investing in the Van der Stel complex with a long-term vision for a brighter future in Stellenbosch,” said Benadie.

“We believe sport is the empowering catalyst for progress, inclusive economic growth, and opportunity, creating lasting value in a public asset for generations to come.”

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The facility will be home for Stellenbosch Football Club’s teams (men’s, women’s, youth), the ACE Trust’s sports high school, and the Open Play Foundation’s community development programmes.

In addition to many other benefits, SFC aims to make the facility a bastion of support for its teams and a place where the local fans from all walks of life can get together and make memories. We look forward to unlocking unprecedented sporting opportunities for talented youth throughout the region as the complex is transformed into a modern sport facility.