Stellies on course to complete a Diski Challenge hat-trick

WHAT are the chances of Stellenbosch FC winning the DSTV Diski Challenge a third successive time? The smart money is sure to be on the team from the Winelands completing the hat-trick given their incredible performance at the Net Gen Cup in England, which they won without conceding a goal against clubs such as Tottenham Hotspur and Crystal Palace.

But last season’s runners-up Mamelodi Sundowns sent out a strong title warning on matchday one of the 2024/25 campaign at the weekend. The Brazilians smashed Richards Bay 3-0 at the King Zwelithini Stadium on Saturday, while Stellies could only draw 1-1 with newcomers Magesi FC at the old Peter Mokaba Stadium.

The biggest winners though were Cape Town City, who hammered Sekhukhune United 6-2 to go top of the table, if only on goal difference, with both Kaizer Chiefs and Chippa United also registering maximum points.

Speaking after their draw at Magesi, Stellies coach Evangelos Vellios said that while they would, of course, love to complete the hat-trick, the reality is that their main objective is to produce players for the senior team.

“Well, it’s very hard. The Diski is so, so hard to win. As some teams get weaker, others get stronger and you have to build again. Would we like to do that? Yes. Is that our ultimate objective at this level? No. We will do our best to be competitive. We would like to be there and thereabouts.”

He reminded that the Diski is all about developing young players.

“That’s our primary goal; our purpose here is to make sure that players are going through and I think in its 10th year anniversary, I want to congratulate every single coach, assistant coach and support staff and all the guys who have done it over the years and have made South African football as dynamic as it is. If you look at all the names that have graduated from this platform and that has to be the goal.”

Vellios said he was delighted with his team’s start to the new season, even though they did not take home maximum points from the newbies.

“It was a very tough game out there. Magesi was well-organised and well-coached. I was very impressed with them. They were a hard nut to crack. But I felt that considering it is the first game – away from home – and we were travelling off the highs we’ve had (winning the Next Gen Cup in England) and the debutant players that we had, I consider it a decent start.”

Full Diski Challenge results: Chippa United 2, Marumo Gallants 0; Magesi FC 1, Stellenbosch FC 1; SuperSport United 0, Polokwane City 0; AmaZulu 0, Orlando Pirates 0; Richards Bay 0, Mamelodi Sundowns 2; Cape Town City 6, Sekhukhune United 2; Kaizer Chefs 2, Golden Arrows 0; Royal AM v TS Galaxy postponed.