NEWS
More Than Bragging Rights On Offer In Tonight’s Cape Derby
Rob Delport previews this evening’s Cape Derby between Stellenbosch and Cape Town City, in this week’s long read brought to you by DStv.
When John Comitis bought the Mpumalanga Black Aces franchise back in 2016 and founded Cape Town City, there was a lot of excitement in the Mother City about a local derby between the new team and Comitis’ former club, Ajax Cape Town.
It had been a while since Cape Town had had two Premiership clubs, following the relegation of former champions Santos in 2012, and for four seasons Ajax ruled the roost in the Western Cape.
City versus Ajax was hyped up by both clubs, especially because of the history between Comitis and Ari Efstathiou, his brother-in-law and former business partner, who ran the Urban Warriors now, and it was billed by the media as a ‘family feud’.
But it was a short-lived rivalry, as Ajax were controversially relegated in 2018, and the two teams played against each other only four times in the top flight. It ended up being a one-sided affair for the new kids on the block, and City were victorious in all four matches, as the Citizens stamped their mark as the number one team in the city and the province.
Dutch giants Ajax Amsterdam meanwhile severed ties with their Cape Town affiliate, and the now-second-tier team were rebranded as Cape Town Spurs.
While Spurs continue to battle to return to the top flight, Stellenbosch entered the picture.
Having also been rebranded, the former Vasco Da Gama franchise relocated to the Cape Winelands in 2016. As Vasco, the club did have one season twelve years ago in the top flight, but after struggling to get back up, the decision was taken to move to Stellies. A year or so later, the Stellenbosch Academy of Sport bought the club and the rest is history.
Stellenbosch Football Club were promoted to the top tier in 2019, and a new Cape Derby was born.
The City-Stellies rivalry will continue at the Danie Craven Stadium on Friday (the 27th) as the two clubs meet for the eighth time in their history.
Steve Barker has been in charge at Stellenbosch for all previous seven derbies, but City have had three coaches during this period. Benni McCarthy was in charge for one game, Jan Olde-Riekerink led City three times, while Friday will be Eric Tinkler’s fourth derby.
Their first official meeting was back in August 2019, and it was McCarthy’s City who would walk away 1-0 victors on the day, with Dutch midfielder Chris David the goalscorer on the day.
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Their second meeting happened over a year later in the Covid-interrupted season, with Olde Riekerink having replaced McCarthy, and Stellenbosch won 1-0 in their “home game” in the bio-bubble. Lelethu Skelem scored the winner at the Tuks Stadium.
Three months later they met at the Danie Craven Stadium, and it was City who would triumph again, Thabo Nodada and Craig Martin grabbing goals for the visitors, with Nathan Sinkala scoring a consolation goal in the 2-1 result.
However, since that result in 2020, it is Stellies who have had the upper hand as they would win the next three derbies.
In March 2021 it ended 2-1 at the DHL Stadium, with Ashley Du Preez and Rafiq De Goede scoring on either side of an Aubrey Ngoma goal for City.
In September 2021 at the same venue, but with Tinkler now in charge at City, it was a 3-0 victory for Barker’s boys, as Judas Moseamedi scored a brace, with Alan Robertson getting the other.
In May 2022 in the final game of the season, Granwald Scott grabbed a late winner in a 1-0 victory in Stellenbosch.
In August last year, in the first round of the current campaign, it ended 1-1 at the DHL Stadium, with Junior Mendieta cancelling out Darwin Gonzalez’s goal.
Stellies will have Mendieta back for Friday’s game after the Argentinean was suspended for their match against Orlando Pirates. Mendieta has been their key attacking player this season, with eight goal-contributions, scoring five times and with three assists.
Venezuelan Gonzalez has meanwhile been one of City’s key players this campaign, and he and Khanyisa Mayo, who is expected to return for this game from injury, both have six goal-contributions.
Only two players have played in all previous seven derbies – City captain Thamsanqa Mkhize, and veteran left-back Marc Van Heerden. However, Van Heerden played six of those games for Stellies, before turning out for City in their last encounter.
Four other players, all from City, featured in six of the seven games – Nodada, Martin, Mpho Makola and Taariq Fielies. All but Martin, who has since moved on to Orlando Pirates, will have the opportunity to play in their seventh Cape derby on Friday.
Of the current Stellenbosch crop of players, Jayden Adams has featured in the most derbies and is in line for his fifth appearance against City. Sage Stephens has technically been involved in all seven past derbies, but only started three and was on the bench four times. The first two times he sat on the bench was as City’s backup to Peter Leeuwenburgh, before he moved across to join Stellies in 2020.
Of all the past goal scorers in this derby, only Nodada, Mendieta and Gonzalez are still at their respective clubs, with the other ten players who have derby goals having moved on to greener pastures.
While both teams have not had the best campaigns in 2022/2023, City comes into this game undefeated in their last three fixtures, and in seventh position. A victory in the derby would see them entrench their place in the top eight, and keep them in the battle for a top-three spot to earn CAF qualification.
Barker’s youthful team have had it tougher, and are currently on a run of nine games without a win. After a heavy defeat to Pirates last weekend, they dropped to 15th place and will be fighting hard, not only for the derby’s bragging rights, but much-needed points.
Head to Head:
10 August 2019: Cape Town City 1-0 Stellenbosch
20 August 2020: Stellenbosch 1-0 Cape Town City
15 December 2020: Stellenbosch 1-2 Cape Town City
6 March 2021: Cape Town City 1-2 Stellenbosch
18 September 2021: Cape Town City 0-3 Stellenbosch
21 May 2022: Stellenbosch 1-0 Cape Town City
20 August 2022: Cape Town City 1-1 Stellenbosch
This article, brought to you by DStv, first appeared in Edition 88 of iDiski Times.
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