Devin Titus has reflected proudly on becoming the youngest player to play 150 matches for Stellenbosch Football Club.

Earlier this week, Titus became just the third player to join Stellenbosch’s exclusive 150-appearance club when he was named in the starting XI for the Betway Premiership encounter against Siwelele FC.

Upon taking to the field on Wednesday evening, he joined former Stellies captain Deano van Rooyen and current skipper Sage Stephens as the only players to have reached the milestone in the famed maroon and gold jersey.

“I’m honoured to reach the milestone of 150 appearances for Stellenbosch FC and I hope to play many more matches for the Club,” said Titus, who at the age of 24 years, 3 months, and 30 days, is the youngest to hit that mark.

His journey with Stellenbosch FC started in 2020 when he joined the Club’s development ranks, and within two years, he had captained the reserve team to both the DStv Diski Challenge and the Premier League Next Generation Cup titles.

Devin Titus scored two goals in the semi-final win over Nottingham Forest and a hat-trick in a 7-2 win over Leicester City to help Stellenbosch FC win the Premier League Next Gen Cup in the United Kingdom.

Such was his impact that Titus’ No. 7 jersey was temporarily retired by the reserve team ahead of the 2022-23 season, and only came back into circulation ahead of the 2024-25 campaign.

Now 24, the Bishop Lavis-born forward is the first graduate from the reserve team to reach the 150-appearance milestone at senior level, a feat he hopes can inspire the next generation of youngsters coming through the ranks.

“⁠I might be the first Stellenbosch DDC graduate to get to this point, but there were players here before me who came close and who laid the foundations for me to achieve what I have done so far,” Titus added.

“Being a youngster in a Stellenbosch team a few years ago was not easy because there were very good and talented players playing in my position. I had to work hard and be patient to get my opportunity.

“That meant that I had to play as a right back at first, but I eventually became a regular starter in my position, and I’ve now played 150 matches. I would like other DDC graduates to follow and make a bit of their own history too.”

While still part of the DDC squad, Titus was called up to the senior squad by coach Steve Barker in January 2021 and made his professional debut during the Club’s 1-1 Betway Premiership draw against Black Leopards at Danie Craven Stadium.

He was subsequently rewarded with a first-team contract in July 2023 and has featured in 98.6% of all possible Stellenbosch FC matches since, missing only two fixtures since the start of the 2023-24 campaign.

During that time, Titus helped Stellies win the 2023 Carling Knockout trophy, winning the tournament’s Most Valuable Player award, reach two MTN8 finals in two years, and qualify for the CAF Confederation Cup in consecutive seasons.

Titus has also won Stellenbosch FC’s internal Young Player of the Year award in the 2022-23 season, Players’ Player of the Year in 2023-2024, and Top Goalscorer in 2024-2025.

Ahead of the 2024-25 season, he was promoted to the Club’s leadership group and recently captained the team in the absence of Stephens during a memorable Carling Knockout quarter-final win over Kaizer Chiefs at Athlone Stadium.

“I always strive to be a leader on and off the field and to be a role model, so being part of the leadership group is very special and important to me,” Titus reflected.

“Since being the captain of the DDC team a few years ago, captaining Stellenbosch FC, my boyhood club, is something I have always dreamed about. It was a dream come true for me, at 24, to achieve that, and I’m incredibly grateful for that honour.”

Devin Titus has played a hand in 48 goals (33 goals and 15 assists) in 150 appearances across all club competitions since making his senior debut for Stellenbosch FC in 2021.

With 150 Stellenbosch FC matches now behind him, the Bafana Bafana international is just 11 outings shy of Deano van Rooyen’s all-time record, with the aforementioned Stephens placed in between with 155 appearances.

“Deano was a role model for me and always gave me advice,” Titus concludes. “He was like an older brother, so surpassing his appearance record will be bittersweet, but I also want to make history at Stellenbosch FC.”