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Stellenbosch Football Club has welcomed what it called a landmark decision by the
Stellenbosch Municipality to partner with the club to develop the Van Der Stel Sports
Complex. The partnership is said to represent a triumph of community-focused endeavour as the municipality and the Stellies, in collaboration with the ACE Trust and Open Play Foundation, join forces to create Stellenbosch’s true ‘field of dreams’. A club statement said the landmark the collaboration represents a significant milestone in Stellies’ commitment and the municipality’s commitment to securing the future of the premiership franchise in the sports-rich town. The venture will unlock inclusive economic growth and opportunity in the area while creating unprecedented opportunities for local sports people. The agreement will see a bold commitment of some R395 million investment over five years in the facility while the football club will manage and develop over an initial 30-year terms while the Stellenbosch Municipality retains ownership of the valuable public asset.
“We’re grateful to the municipality and the community of Stellenbosch for the opportunity to manage and develop this landmark complex over the next 30 years,” said Stellenbosch FC CEO Rob Benadie. Football is the town’s only sport code with a professional club that plays in national leagues and in African continental games with men’s, women’s and youth teams. “The Van Der Stel Complex is the ideal the ideal home for the town’s football club, and the club is privileged to bring the excitement and benefits of professional sport to the facility,” Benadie added. The involvement of many stakeholders in the collaborative approach ensures the facility will continue to serve the broader Stellenbosch community while benefiting from substantial private investment. The proposed development plan includes: Football facilities including a 5 000-seat stadium that will be upgradeable to 10 000 seats in future phases, four international standard full-size grass football fields and six multi-purpose small-sided fields or courts. A sport high school for 200 learners, a 150-bed residence for student athletes, a 300-metre grass athletics track. This school will offer excellent education and the highest quality coaching to learners for a several sporting codes. The ACE Trust will secure full bursaries for deserving learners, while also being accessible to other talented youth on a commercial basis. Parking infrastructure with a multi-storey parking facility with 600 000 bays “As responsible and trusted citizens, our shareholders, partners and the club are investing in the Va Der Stel Complex with a long-term vision with a brighter future in Stellenbosch,” Benadie said, adding: “We believe sport is the empowering catalyst for progress, inclusive economic growth and opportunity, creating lasting value in a public asset for generations to come.” The facility will be home for Stellenbosch Football Club’s teams for men, women and youth and the ACE Trust’s sports high school, and the Open Play Foundation’s community development programmes. In addition to many other benefits, Stellies aims to make the facility a bastion of support for its teams and a place where the local fans from all walks of life can get together and make unforgettable memories. “We look forward to unlocking unprecedented sporting opportunities for talented youth throughout the region as the complex is transformed into a modern sport facility,” Benadie concluded.