Stellenbosch goalkeeper Sage Stephens says the club’s success in the Carling Knockout in 2023 will always be a treasured memory, but they cannot afford to be living in the past.

Stellenbosch have won no silverware since but have been MTN8 runners-up twice and got to the semifinal of the African Confederation Cup in 2025.

“Obviously, winning the Carling Knockout will always be special. It was a big milestone for the club,” said Stephens as he looked ahead to the first-round tie away against Durban City at the Chatsworth Stadium on Wednesday (live on SuperSport, 7pm).

“Obviously, but probably with the club having won this one before, it's always nice to compete in this competition, but we don't want to dwell too much in the past.

“This season there has been a big overhaul with the players, so now it's up to the new guys to go out and look to build for the future. 


“And I just hope that we can start with this game on Wednesday because again, it's a tough opponent and let's see how far we end up,” he added.

Stephens was in the team that edged TS Galaxy 5-4 on penalties after extra time to win the Carling Knockout three years ago. Genino Palace and Darrel Matsheke, who rejoined Stellenbosch in the last months, are the only other players from the winning line-up who are still at Stellenbosch, but Palace will miss Wednesday’s game through injury along with Mosa Lebusa and Tlakusani Mthethwa.