Stellenbosch FC have confirmed the new venue for two of their upcoming matches and explained the unavailability of their traditional home venue that has become a fortress for the side, the Danie Craven Stadium.
The Carling Knockout winners will be forced to play out of province when they welcome Nsingizini Hotspurs of Eswatini for their first preliminary round first-leg tie in the CAF Confederation Cup.
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They will also have to play away when they 'host' Mamelodi Sundowns for their home leg of the semi-final in the MTN8 on 1 September.
The Winelands-based outfit confirmed on Thursday, via a club statement, that the two fixtures would be moved to the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban.
"Stellenbosch Football Club can confirm the Club will regrettably play its upcoming home fixtures against Nsingizini Hotspurs (24 August 2024) and Mamelodi Sundowns (1 September 2024) away from our traditional home at Danie Craven Stadium, and indeed outside the Western Cape," reads the statement.
The statement further claims Stellies' home stadium, Danie Craven Stadium, is undergoing rehabilitation, as is Athlone Stadium.
Meanwhile, DHL Stadium is unavailable as it clashes with the upcoming Rugby test match between South Africa and New Zealand that takes place on September 7, with pitch preparations ongoing for that match.
"The DHL Cape Town Stadium is similarly unavailable due to scheduling conflicts, including the international test match between the South African and New Zealand national rugby teams near the start of September," the statement continues.
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Stellies are set to kick off their league season with a clash against Lamontville Golden Arrows on 15 September. The good news for their fans is that the club is confident that Danie Craven will be ready to host the fixture.
FULL CLUB STATEMENT
Stellenbosch Football Club can confirm the Club will regrettably play its upcoming home fixtures against Nsingizini Hotspurs (24 August 2024) and Mamelodi Sundowns (1 September 2024) away from our traditional home at Danie Craven Stadium, and indeed outside the Western Cape," the statement reads.
"These fixtures will instead both be played at Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban due to the unavailability of the Danie Craven Stadium in Stellenbosch, and the surrounding Athlone Stadium and DHL Cape Town Stadium on the dates in question.
"The Club is unable to utilise Danie Craven or Athlone Stadium due to the ongoing rehabilitation of the playing surfaces at both venues. This is due to damage caused to the pitch by a combination of the prevailing wet weather conditions and a strenuous rugby season.
The DHL Cape Town Stadium is similarly unavailable due to scheduling conflicts, including the international test match between the South African and New Zealand national rugby teams near the start of September.
The Club would like to apologise to supporters for the inconvenience caused by the venue changes, and stress that all is being done to ensure that football returns to the Western Cape in time for the start of the 2024/25 Betway Premiership campaign.