Stellenbosch FC’s 2025-26 DStv Diski Challenge campaign is set to get underway this weekend.

Two-time DStv Diski Challenge champions Stellenbosch FC are set to kick off the new season on Saturday when the club travels to Mpumalanga Stadium in Durban to take on AmaZulu in an Asidlali festival.

Speaking ahead of the season-opener, Young Maroons head coach, Evangelos Vellios, revealed his excitement at working with a new look squad this season and developing the next generation of players to emerge from the club’s conveyor belt of talent.

“We’re all really looking forward to another new season for Stellenbosch FC, which is also my seventh year with the club’s Diski programme,” Vellios said.

“There have been some changes to the team with a couple of new players that we have brought in, but it’s mostly players stepping up and graduating from within our youth structure, which is a credit to the work Jean-Pierre Farrugia (Head of Academy) and the rest of the youth coaches are doing.

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“There have also been some changes off the field with [former DDC assistant coach] Jason Rhoda becoming the club’s General Manager, and [former DDC strength & conditioning coach] Menanto De Lange becoming the Head of Performance, so it’s a fresh, fresh look for us this season.

“But we are excited for the season, and we are excited to see how the boys develop. Many of them are entering their first season in the Diski programme, so it’s a nice new journey, and it’s a nice group of players.

Our DStv Diski Challenge campaign gets underway this weekend #HeartoftheCape #MoreThanFootball #StellenboschFC pic.twitter.com/pvyo9IjVSi

— Stellenbosch FC (@StellenboschFC) September 4, 2025

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“They will be going straight into a televised game at a festival, so it will be interesting to see how they cope and handle those pressures. There are some future stars coming through this group so this year will be important for them to develop, mature, and grow.

“We obviously also want to test ourselves and compete, and we will reevaluate after 10 or so games to see where we are in the race and in the pack, and try to take it from there.

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“The most important thing is to create a good team with a good core that can take this programme forward for the next couple of seasons, and hopefully see some graduates go on to achieve great things for our club, abroad, and, of course, for our national teams.”

Goalkeepers:
Dejean Ah Shene
Dublin Boone
Nathan Langeveldt

Defenders:
Tyler Cicero
Azasakhe Luthango (vice-captain)
Tshebetso Tlali
Keanu Toutie
Luthando Vena

Midfielders:
Vuyolwethu Andrieas
Kyle Bailey
Ethan Felix
Jeandre Gaffoor
Keanan Johannessen (vice-captain)
Kade Kock
Clayton Leonard
Liam Slade (captain)

Forwards:
Tauric Gamildien
Zaydee Marang
Quwan Plaatjies

Staff:

Head coach: Evangelos Vellios
Assistant coach: Jean Pierre Farrugia
Team manager & kit manager: Benjamin Mthini
Strength & Conditioning coach: Solomon Akumba
Physiotherapist: Jason Matter
Sports scientist: Hilda du Toit