Long-serving defender Rafiq De Goede will serve as Stellenbosch FC's new permanent captain after being handed the armband following Robyn Johannes' departure from the club at the end of last season.
The 29-year-old centre-back has been with Stellies since the club acquired the PSL status of Vasco Da Gama back in 2016 and has seen his loyal service honoured through him being handed the leadership role.
"I've been at the club for what is now my sixth year so it's really something special and an honour to be the captain and lead the club," De Goede tells KICK OFF. "I'm the longest-serving player at the club at the moment so it's special to me because I was there from the start when we moved from Vasco Da Gama to Stellenbosch.
"To be awarded with the captain's armband and to lead the club and be an example for the rest of the guys, is something special to me. I think coach Steve (Barker) saw some leadership skills in me and I take that into my life and football career, to be a leader for the younger guys at Stellenbosch.
"I feel like having that responsibility suits me because I want to be an example for the guy next to me, I want to lead the team in the right direction not only on the field, but off of it as well and to be positive and help the club to be successful."
De Goede is no stranger to the armband after having stood in as captain on numerous occasions since the club's promotion to the DStv Premiership in 2019, with the first such outing coming on the day of the club's first-ever top-flight victory.
"I will never ever forget the first time, it was the PSL match against Polokwane City," he adds. "I remember coach Steve calling me in the morning to tell me that I was going to be the captain for the day's match.
"I was a bit nervous, but it was a good nervous and a good feeling. I think we won the game 2–0 and I was named Man of the Match as well for that game, so it was a really special moment in my career.
"That was our first three points in the PSL as well so for me, being captain that day and getting those three points was an awesome feeling and one of the highlights of my career. I will never forget it."
Having opened the season with a goalless draw to Marumo Gallants last weekend, he will next lead the team out at home for the first time as permanent captain on Wednesday evening when Stellenbosch host Orlando Pirates at the Danie Craven Stadium.
"It's our first home game at the Danie Craven where a full capacity home crowd can be there so it's really going to be exciting for us," De Goede continues. "It will be something special to be captain of the club in front of those fans and I feel like it will be an awesome match.
"We want to get the result, not just for us, but to reward all those who come out to watch us. Like coach Steve previously said to us, we're no longer just going to be in the league, we want to win trophies and compete against the biggest teams."
The occasion comes on the back of De Goede making his 50th DStv Premiership appearance for the club last weekend – only the eighth player to do so in the top-flight – and he is hoping to use that milestone as motivation for further success for himself and with the club.
"I didn't know about it but now that I do it feels good and shows that as a player I am moving in the right direction," he concludes. "As a player you want to have good career in the PSL, in the highest league in South Africa, so to hear that stat is something good.
"It's motivation to stay positive and keep going, keep getting results for the team but it's not just about me. I need my teammates to help achieve those kinds of statistics, so it's for me and the team, but it's nice and it's something to build on moving forward."
