Stellenbosch goalkeeper and captain Sage Stephens has become the club\u2019s record appearance holder and was honoured after his side\u2019s 1-0 victory over AmaZulu at the Danie Craven Stadium on Friday. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The goalkeeper achieved the milestone in Stellenbosch\u2019s goalless draw against Singida Black Stars in the CAF Confederation Cup on 15 February, which was played at the DHL Stadium in Cape Town. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Stephens made his 162nd appearance for the Maroons in that game, overtaking previous record-holder Deano van Rooyen who now plays for Orlando Pirates, and marked the occasion by keeping a clean sheet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He was presented with a special jersey with the number of asppearances to mark his milestone on Friday and secured a much needed three points, and a clean sheet, in the Betway Premiership. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The 34-year-old shot stopper began his career as a back-up option at Moroka Swallows before becoming the number two at AmaZulu before joining Cape Town City. He joined Stellies from the Citizens in September 2020. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt\u2019s difficult to describe the feeling because I never thought I\u2019d achieve the record or even come close to it,\u201d said Stephens, as per Stellenbosch\u2019s official website. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI have to pinch myself because my time at Stellenbosch has gone above and beyond all my expectations.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He has achieved great things at the club, winning the 2023 Carling Knockout, reaching back-to-back MTN8 finals, and reaching the semi-finals of the CAF Confederation Cup in the club\u2019s first season of continental football. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhen I joined the Club, I just wanted to play regularly, so to have achieved what we have since, winning the Carling Knockout, playing in the CAF Confederation Cup, and for me personally getting to play for Bafana Bafana, is a testament to a top Club and a top team. I couldn\u2019t have scripted it any better myself,\u201d Stephens said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The goalkeeper revealed that he was once told he was not starting material, a comment which fueled him to reach the heights he has, including a cap for Bafana Bafana. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAt a previous club, I was told I\u2019m the best number two in the country but that I wasn\u2019t viewed as a number one. That wasn\u2019t great to hear, but I used it as extra motivation. You can\u2019t listen to one person\u2019s opinion. You have to make sure you believe in what you see in the mirror every day; otherwise, you won\u2019t get anywhere.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Stellenbosch FC goalkeeper and captain Sage Stephens has become the club\u2019s record appearance holder.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":1373,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_vp_format_video_url":"","_vp_image_focal_point":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1372","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorised"],"yoast_head":"\n