Stellenbosch FC took a major step towards securing a top-eight finish in the DStv Premiership standings on Saturday after recording an impressive 1-0 win over Soweto giants Kaizer Chiefs at the Danie Craven Stadium.
The Cape-based outfit previously played the majority of their pre-Covid-19 matches at the Idas Valley Stadium – the site of their promotion from the National First Division in 2019 – but were yet to welcome their fans to their new home ground following the onset of the pandemic.
That all changed on Saturday when hordes of supporters flocked to the famed venue for the first time in PSL history and home fans were treated to the sight of Stellies claiming all three points, courtesy of a goal fittingly scored by homegrown star Deano van Rooyen.
Van Rooyen's well-taken effort not only earned his side an important win on the night but embodied the tireless work that has gone on behind the scenes at the club in recent seasons to groom and develop players from within the club's ranks.
The 25-year-old was one of a number of homegrown and fledgling talents who took to the field against Chiefs in a lineup that also included the likes of Ashley Du Preez (24), Bafana Bafana international Athenkosi Mcaba (20), who was named Man of the Match for his performance, Ibraheem Jabaar (19) and Jayden Adams (20).
"A couple of seasons back, I made the statement that it was a short-term risk but a long-term reward playing youngsters, and I think we are starting to see the benefits of that," head coach Steve Barker said during his post-match press conference.
"We are starting to see guys like Jayden Adams and Ibraheem Jabaar step up and take responsibility. They were brave and courageous, technically very good and tactically very good, and it is very pleasing when that starts coming to fruition.
"It is the strategy of our club to provide an opportunity for homegrown talent and youngsters," he added. "We are not a club that has a huge budget to buy players, but we believe that we can produce players and it has shown.
"Even Oswin Andries who came on, he played in the DStv Diski Challenge match this morning, and they are top of the log so there are definitely talented players there. We have a good generation right now and it's about finding the next generation so that when these players are 23 or 24, the next group are already coming through."
Stellenbosch's remarkable work in the field of youth development was also lauded by opposition coach Arthur Zwane, who believed that the efforts being done in the Winelands would soon be to the benefit of the national team as well.
"It is going to help the country going forward," Zwane opined after the match. "If boys of this age are playing at this level and competing with some of the best teams in the country doing well, they can easily be called up to the national team or the U23s because we need that as a nation. The standard of football will change for the better."
Five of the fifteen youngest players to feature in the DStv Premiership this season hail from Stellenbosch's camp while the club has also fielded seven U21 players in total for the campaign, the most by any club in the top flight.
It comes as little surprise then that Barker, who was particularly effusive in his praise of defender Mcaba, also backed one of his burgeoning stars to win the PSL's annual and coveted PSL Young Player of the Season award
"I want to say it publicly that I will be very disappointed if the Young Player of the Season doesn't come from Stellenbosch," the 54-year-old stressed. "I wouldn't understand [if the winner] wouldn't come from either Athenkosi Mcaba, Ibraheem Jabaar, Jaden Adams…"