Stellenbosch head coach Steve Barker is satisfied with how his squad is shaping up for the 2025/26 season.
The Cape Winelands outfit recently confirmed the departure of one of their most influential players, Ivorian defender Ismail Toure, who completed a lucrative move to UAE side Baniyas. The club moved swiftly to fill the void by signing 22-year-old Belgian centre-back Henri Stanic from FC Balzan.
Stellenbosch also lost midfielder Sihle Nduli, who joined Orlando Pirates after his contract expired, while Brian Onyango, Thulani Mini, Shaakir Ahmed, and Liam de Kock were released as part of the squad reshuffle.
To bolster the team, the club secured several new signings: left-back Turan Manafov from Azerbaijan, Siviwe Nkwali from Cape Town Spurs, and second-tier Golden Boot winner Muzomuhle Khanyi from Hungry Lions.
In addition, promising reserve team talent Simthandile Sishi has been promoted to the senior side.
With rumours swirling around the futures of key defenders Fawaaz Basadien and Thabo Moloisane, Barker emphasised the importance of maintaining stability in the squad.
“I’m quite pleased with the balance of the squad now,” Barker told iDiski Times.
“The transfer window is still open, so anything can happen, but generally I’m happy with the players we’ve brought in.
“Henri [Stanic] comes in after we lost Toure – he has a solid background from Anderlecht’s academy and has played at a good level. He only arrived on Monday, so we still need to integrate him.”
Barker also praised the early impact of new attackers Khanyi and Nkwali, as well as the seamless transition of the club’s DDC (Diski Challenge) graduates.
“Muzi and Siviwe have fitted in very well, and the promoted youngsters are adjusting easily, which helps. I’m looking forward to working with everyone.”
Stellies began their pre-season camp in Gauteng with a 2–0 friendly win over TS Galaxy at Marks Park on Tuesday. Fawaaz Basadien converted from the penalty spot, and Ashley Cupido added the second goal. The match also marked the return of Bradley Mojela, who featured in the first half after recovering from a long-term injury.
“I was pleased with the performance against Galaxy,” Barker added. “We didn’t get many chances for friendly matches back home, so it’s been good to train in dry conditions and test ourselves against quality opposition.”
He said the team’s rotation in the match – with most players getting around 45 minutes – was essential ahead of their MTN8 quarter-final opener.
“We showed good quality. Of course, there are still areas to work on, which we’ll address in upcoming training sessions.”
On Saturday, Stellenbosch continued their preparations with a high-scoring 6–2 victory over Siwelele FC, in a match played over three 30-minute halves.