Stellenbosch are looking to attract more support in the stands as they go into the Betway Premiership campaign as the only team representing the Western Cape.
Stellies will have no derby matches in the league this season following Cape Town City’s relegation to the Motsepe Foundation Championship.
Stellenbosch started their latest campaign with a 3-2 victory after extra-time against Amazulu in the MTN8 quarterfinals at the DHL Stadium last weekend.
The team from the Cape Winelands have a blockbuster clash to open the league season when Soweto giants Kaizer Chiefs roll into Cape Town on Sunday.
Stellenbosch head coach Steve Barker said: “I think, as everyone, knows Cape teams probably have to travel the most in the league, so not having any derby is disappointing for us.
“I can only wish and hope that a team like Cape Town City bounce immediately back and let’s hope that Cape Town Spurs can also get themselves back into the professional level.
“Sometimes you’ve just got to learn lessons that you take from these situations and just make sure that you don’t become complacent yourself.
“At the same time it does offer us a massive opportunity to try and get more support from the greater Western Cape region, hopefully we can get more supporters coming to our matches and getting behind the team and just to help push us to the highest level so that we can hopefully compete with some of the bigger teams up north.”
Barker is hoping have as many as five new signings available for the clash against Amakhosi with Siviwe Nkwali, who signed a pre-contract with the club in January, coming off the bench as the only new face to make his debut against Usuthu.
Stellenbosch have lost two key players in their defence with Oliver Toure and Fawaaz Basadien moving on, but have signed overseas duo Henri Stanic and Turan Manafov to bolster the backline.
Barker added: “I think we had up to six players not available (against Amazulu) through registrations, not all our own fault, obviously, work permits.
“We’ve got some really exciting players that we brought in, and sometimes it’s also making sure that you hold on to players as well, which is as important, which I believe we’ve been able to do.
“We’ve got Henri Stanic, a really good centre back, and we’ve signed Turan Manafov. I do believe that they’ll add experience and depth to our defence.”