Gaston Sirino of Kaizer Chiefs is challenged by Lesiba Nku of Stellenbosch FC during the Betway Premiership 2025/26 game between Stellenbosch FC and Kaizer Chiefs at Athlone Stadium in Cape Town on 10 August 2025 © Ryan Wilkisky/BackpagePix
Tuesday Feb 03, 2026. 13:06
Kaizer Chiefs and Stellenbosch’s rivalry adds another chapter on Wednesday as the two sides meet in the Nedbank Cup round of 32 at the DHL Stadium in Cape Town on Wednesday.
Since Stellenbosch’s arrival in the South African top flight in in the 2019/2020 season, the club has more than held its own, finishing third in the Betway Premiership in the 2023/24 and 2024/25 seasons respectively and claimed the 2023/24 Carling Knockout title. The club also fell to Orlando Pirates in back-to-back MTN8 finals.
Perhaps the club’s biggest achievement came in its first appearance in continental competition last season, reaching the semi-finals of the CAF Confederation Cup.
This season, Stellenbosch are struggling in the league and sit in 12th place, one point above the relegation zone.
Where Stellenbosch found success, Kaizer Chiefs struggled but have made an impressive resurgence. The club ended a decade-long trophy drought last season, winning the Nedbank Cup and earning a spot in the CAF Confederation Cup.
The Phefeni Glamour Boys are enjoying an impressive run in the league after finishing ninth last season. They now sit in third place and are undefeated in the Betway Premiership since their one and only loss of the league campaign to Sekhukhune on 16 September.
The two clubs have faced one another five times in domestic cup competitions since 2017 with AmaKhosi remaining unbeaten, claiming three wins and two draws. In their most recent cup meeting, the Maroons advanced to the last 16 of the Carling Knockout on penalties after a goalless draw.
AmaKhosi hold the historical advantage over Stellies since their first meeting in 2017, winning 10 of their clashes, drawing five and losing three.
Speaking ahead of Wednesday’s clash, Kaizer Chiefs co-coach Cedric Kaze weighed in on the budding rivalry, stating it is good for the strength of the game domestically.
“It’s true that these past seasons there have been very good challenges between the two teams, with very great football performances on the field and games that have resulted in a very good rivalry,” said Kaze.
I believe that’s why you say that South African football is growing, because you can find other teams that can challenge the teams that are supposed to be big. The more teams that challenge each other, the more the league grows and the football in general in South Africa grows.”
Having been bounced from the Carling Knockout by Stellies, Kaze insists that his side are not out for revenge.
“There is no revenge in football, it’s just another game that we need to prepare thoroughly and try to have a good performance to expect a very good result,” he said.
Kaze stated that there is no added pressure on his side as defending champions, as they are always expected to produce results.
“The pressure is there, the pressure is there, despite even the fact that being champions, a club like Kaizer Chiefs has pressure on a daily basis and that’s what comes with the badge. We know that the pressure will be there and we will cope with it.”
Stellenbosch has undergone radical change since December, with long-standing head coach Gvain Barker departing, along with five players. PSL veteran Gavin Hunt has taken the reins and the club has added seven new players to its roster.
Despite the changes, Kaze knows the threat the club still poses.
“We’re going against a very good team of Stellenbosch, a new coach as well, but it’s a coach that has been in this league for so many years with very great achievements and big experience. He has a little bit reshuffled the team, but we are Kaiser chiefs and we want to go as far as we can in defending the trophy.”
By Nic Gleeson