After struggling to host ‘home’ games in Stellenbosch in the current season, Stellenbosch FC has officially announced that Stellenbosch Municipality has accepted its bid to take over and develop the Van der Stel Sports Complex into a premier sports facility.
The premier sport facility partnership is in collaboration with the ACE Trust and Open Play Foundation, which is to create “field of dreams” in Stellenbosch. It marks a key milestone in Stellies’s dedication to the town and the municipality’s commitment to securing the future of its Premiership football franchise.
The project will promote economic growth and create new opportunities for local athletes. The agreement involves a R395 million investment over five years, with SFC managing and developing the complex for the next 30 years, while the municipality retains ownership.
Stellenbosch FC CEO Rob Benadie expressed his gratitude towards the Stellenbosch municipality for the opportunity to develop the complex.
“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,” Benadie said.
“The Van der Stel Complex is the ideal home for the town’s football club, and we are privileged to bring professional sport to this facility.”
The development plan includes:
• A 5,000-seat stadium (expandable to 10,000 seats), four full-size grass football fields, and six multi-purpose small-sided courts.
• A sports high school for 200 students, a 150-bed residence for student-athletes, and a 300-meter grass athletics track. The school will offer high-quality education and coaching, with the ACE Trust providing full bursaries for deserving students.
• A multi-storey parking facility with 600-800 bays.
“We believe sport is the empowering catalyst for progress, economic growth, and opportunity,” Benadie added.
“This investment will create lasting value for generations to come.”
The facility will serve as the home for Stellies’s men’s, women’s, and youth teams, as well as the ACE Trust’s sports high school and the Open Play Foundation’s community programs.
It will be a place where fans from all walks of life can come together to support their teams and create lasting memories. SFC is excited to unlock unprecedented sporting opportunities for young talent in the region as the complex evolves into a modern sports hub.
Written by: Mandisa Maphisa
