Head Coach of Stellenbosch FC Ladies, Nathan Peskin says they are quite excited about being in the South African elite women’s football league space – this comes after they acquired the status of Western Cape neighbours, the University of Cape Town (UCT).
The Stellies women’s team came into being after they joined forces with the Maties Ladies team (University of Stellenbosch) back in 2024.
Two years after campaigning in the Sasol Women’s League, the club has now moved a level up and will be part of the 2026 Hollywoodbets Super League.
“I feel very excited for the club and the players. Stellenbosch Football Club has put their money where their mouth is, in as far as their vision for both men and women’s football is concerned,” said an elated Peskin.
The Western Cape outfit had an incredible season in the Sasol League, finishing top of Stream A unbeaten in 18 matches – with 54 points, 12 ahead of second placed Real Brazilians.
Stellies forward Janice Smith was second on the goal scorers’ chart with 19 strikes in 19 games – accounting for the majority of the 93 goals they managed.
They were not shabby either in the poles – their goalkeeper Holly Gerber finished second on list of clean sheets as she got seven in 17 matches.
“It’s a bittersweet moment too as not all players will continue the journey immediately either due to inexperience or other factors, but that’s the nature of competitive football unfortunately,” added Peskin.
Despite winning their stream, Stellenbosch Ladies could not participate in the annual Sasol League play-offs to fight for promotion into the Hollywoodbets Super League – due to a court order that stopped them from playing even though they were already at the tournament which was held in Vaal – 1,312km away from home.
Diepkloof Ladies and Ramatlaohle secured qualification into the elite league after progressing to the finals.
But Stellies never gave up…
“Unfortunately, we were not allowed to compete in the play-offs due to technicalities beyond our control and due to no fault of the club. This was very disappointing, but the club management had always had the vision of having both men and women competing at the highest levels and when UCT made their franchise available for sale Stellenbosch FC acquired it,” said Peskin.
With this acquisition, they become the third team in the Hollywoodbets Super League to have a parent team in the Betway Premiership after Mamelodi Sundowns and TS Galaxy.
The club is eager to get the show going, but will use the first season to study the landscape. They will, however, have to wait a little while longer as the 2026 league campaign is expected to kick-off only after the CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) 2026 due to the Sasol-sponsored Banyana Banyana’s involvement in the tournament taking place in Morocco from 17 March to 3 April.
Peskin spoke to CentreCircle.online and had this to say…
Congratulations on joining the big ranks of women’s football – personally, how are you feeling?
Personally, of course I feel very excited for the club and the players. Stellenbosch Football Club has put their money where their mouth is, in as far as their vision for both men and women’s football and need to be commended. I am happy to have played a role in achieving this milestone.
This has in a way been a ‘long’ wait to realise this dream…
For Stellenbosch I think the dream realised quite quickly. After two years in the Sasol league, we managed to qualify for the playoffs last year where unfortunately we were not allowed to compete due to technicalities beyond our control and due to no fault of the club. Of course, this was very disappointing, but the club management had always had the vision of having both men and women competing at the highest levels and when UCT made their franchise available for sale Stellenbosch FC acquired it.
Will you continue to be the head coach of the team?
I will continue as head coach. Of course, there’s lots of excitement but I’m also very privileged to have the opportunity of coaching in the Hollywoodbets Super League again and compete against the best in the country. It’s been a long and very patient wait so I’m savouring the moment. At the same time, I am fully aware that this is a big step up and that the season will certainly prove very challenging.
And how are players feeling?
The players are nervously excited. It’s been our goal for the past two years and many hours of hard work has now brought us here. It’s a bittersweet moment too as not all players will continue the journey immediately either due to inexperience or other factors, but that’s the nature of competitive football unfortunately.
Are you getting any players from UCT?
Yes, we are accommodating quite a few UCT players. They did exceptionally well in their first season and it would be very both sad and very naïve if we didn’t try to incorporate them.
And what about the Stellies players?
Unfortunately, we cannot keep all our players, but they will continue representing us at Sasol level as we have retained the franchise. We need to beef up our squad to compete with the best and it will be an extremely challenging season.
What are your aims and ambitions in the first season?
My aims and ambitions for this season are essentially to learn and educate myself with the landscape and how to navigate it successfully. Whilst competing with arguably some of the best coaches in the country I also aim to share many ideas and learn from their journeys and experience. We aim to prepare as best as we can to consolidate our place in the league. We will be bold though and play with confidence and ensure that Stellenbosch F.C is represented with pride respectability.
Western Province gaining a team but sadly losing another…
It is sad as there was an opportunity of the Western Cape having three teams this season had we been allowed to compete at the playoffs. So yes, now we’ve replaced one with another which at least still leaves the status quo. If you can remember 2020 Vasco da Gama sold their franchise and it went up north leaving us with only 1 franchise. But for sure we’ve missed out on a great opportunity to have three franchises in the province.
You are joining the likes of Sundowns Ladies and TS Galaxy Queens who have men’s teams – how important is that for the Hollywoodbets Super League?
Every team that enters the top tier of women’s football as part of a PSL club raises the profile of woman’s football. Not only does it raise the profile of woman’s football in South Africa and Africa, but it raises the profile of football. Women’s teams that are affiliated to PSL teams raise the profile of the clubs in many ways – supporters, match attendances, viewing, marketing and merchandise, among others. Not enough attention is paid to the potential that women’s football possesses just in terms of numbers. With the right marketing campaigns clubs could find that revenue streams could increase quite significantly, also with the right strategy to the right audience. Women are some of the most loyal and consistent and passionate followers. There are way more avenues to extract value if you look carefully at what can be marketed to women. There is a lot of talk about marketing and supporters, and one might think what has that got to do with raising the profile of woman’s football. Well, it’s simple. Clubs are always thinking about the financial burden of having a women’s team instead of what a business asset it can be. It’s a story for another day though.
Which stadium will you be using for the season?
At this point I am unsure about field logistics, but we have options of The Lentelus sportsground as well as the Idas Valley sportsgrounds where our Diski team currently plays.
Your message to the people of the Western Cape…
There can be only one message really to the people of the Western Cape. We have an opportunity here to unite behind and support our own. Whilst the club hails from Stellenbosch, players from all over the Western Cape will form part of the team. My dream has always been to have a team that competes at the highest level that is representative of players from the Western Cape predominantly. We want to enhance, enable and empower our local community talent. We have an opportunity here to grow as a force together. The Western Cape has always been a source of excellence in many areas of sport. We have an opportunity to ensure that it continues and realises its full potential together.
By Matlhomola Morake
