Stellenbosch FC goalkeeper Sage Stephens has responded to his first national team call-up describing it as a special moment and a big achievement coming at a late stage of his career.
“When I saw my name there for the first time, officially, I was very emotional. I don’t want to say it aloud, but I had to choke back a few tears. It’s a very special moment for me, it’s a big achievement for me personally, and I’m just so grateful for it,” said an emotional Stephens during Bafana’s pre-match press conference.
The 33-year-old will be part of Hugo Broos’s squad that is travelling to Kampala to face Uganda in one of their two Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers on Friday, 15 November at Mandela National Stadium in Namboole with kick-off set for 15:00.
Bafana will then return home to welcome South Sudan on Tuesday, 19 November at DHL Stadium in Cape Town, a ground that Stephens is familiar with having played several matches on it with Stellenbosch FC.
Stephens began his career at Moroka Swallows, he joined AmaZulu in the 2015/16 season and was featured twice before he moved to Cape Town City in the 2017/18 season. He struggled for game time while with the Citizens, playing 38 matches in three seasons.
He eventually found success after he was snapped by Stellenbosch FC in 20/21 where he became Steve Barker’s first-choice goalkeeper. He has played 114 matches, conceded 106 goals and kept 42 clean sheets during his time with the Cape Winelands side.
In December 2023, the former Cape Town City goalkeeper played a key role in helping Stellenbosch lift their first top-flight trophy, securing a 5-4 penalty shootout victory over TS Galaxy in the Carling Knockout Cup final.
“To have your first call up at the age of 33… for me, it’s an incredible feat… I would like to say is that it’s never over until you decide it’s over. Ultimately everyone has their own journey to follow and their own path to lead,” he continued.
“The only thing I can say is never to give up. If it happened to me at the age of 33, you know anything is possible for any youngster in any club in the league or let’s say around the world, it’s just to continue working hard and believing in yourself.
Despite a slow start to his career, the goalkeeper has remained relentless, never losing faith in himself. He credits self-confidence as his source of motivation and the foundation of his success.
“The only thing that kept me going was the belief in myself… It’s the belief that you have in yourself that determines how far you going to go in this sport. That’s the only thing that kept me going all these years. From club to club, not being viewed as the number one and eventually, finding the place Stellenbosch where now people can see me in a different light hence, I’m sitting where I’m sitting today,’ Stephens concluded.
Written by Siphesihle Soni