Moloisane, Mojela sting Congo giants AS Vita as Stellenbosch continue African onslaught

Thabo Moloisane of Stellenbosch FC celebrate after scoring a goal during the CAF Confederation Cup, second preliminary round, 1st leg match between Stellenbosch FC and Vita Club at DHL Stadium on 13 September 2024 in Cape Town, South Africa. (Ashley Vlotman/Gallo Images)

• Stellenbosch FC defeated AS Vita 2-0 in the CAF Confederation Cup, with early goals from Thabo Moloisane and Lehlogonolo Mojela.
• Stellies, in their first continental competition, carry a two-goal advantage into the away leg in Kinshasa on 22 September.
• Stellies will look to build on this lead after their Premiership clash against Golden Arrows.
• For more Stellenbosch FC news, please visit the News24 local soccer page. 

Stellenbosch FC put one foot into the group stages of the CAF Confederation Cup with a commanding performance, defeating DR Congo giants AS Vita 2-0 in the second preliminary round at Cape Town Stadium on Friday.

Thabo Moloisane and Lehlohonolo Mojela sealed the victory within the opening 12 minutes as the Maroons travel to Kinsasha for the away leg scheduled for next week on Sunday, 22 September (16:00) at Stade des Martyrs.

Stellies finished third in the Premiership last season and qualified for CAF’s secondary club competition, their first taste of continental football since the club’s inception in 2016.

They’ve taken to the tournament like a duck to water, thrashing Eswatini’s Nsingizini Hotspurs 8-0 on aggregate in the first preliminary round to set up their toughest challenge yet in the Black Dolphins, who are 1973 CAF Champions League winners and two-time losing finalists (1981 and 2014). Meanwhile, they have previously tasted defeat in the Confederation Cup final, more recently in the 2018 edition.

The Cape Winelands team, who are also MTN8 finalists after defeating Mamelodi Sundown to take on Orlando Pirates on 5 October, had to play their home leg against Spurs outside of the Western Cape and at Durban’s Moses Mabhida Stadium due to heavy rainfall and rugby, which damaged the pitches at their home arena Danie Craven Stadium as well at Athlone Stadium.

Meanwhile, Cape Town Stadium’s dates were full as well until Friday evening, and Steve Barker’s men delighted their supporters with their performance. 

Under the beaming arena floodlights, Stellies got their first taste of African football at home with a strong contingent of fans, much of it being passionate Congolese, pulling through to enjoy the action.

But Stellies put a stinger in the roaring Congolese support and gave their fans something to cheer about as early as the seventh minute. Moloisane leapt above everyone, latching onto Fawaaz Basadien’s corner kick and rattling the back of the net.

Five minutes later, it was Mojela, who arrived from TS Galaxy ahead of the season, taking his goal tally to three in six matches for Stellenbosch as life in the Cape continues to treat the 27-year-old well.

By the half-hour mark, Stellies were blitzing the visitors, who arrived in the early hours on matchday at 04:00 due to Visa issues.

The Black Dolphin fans began to get frustrated and target their emotions at AS Vita head coach Abdeslam Ouaddou, who was visibly annoyed and signalled with a frustrating wave back at the fans, which only ignited the supporter’s fury further.

As Ouaddou and his players made their way towards the dressing room, the Vita fans pelted objects at the coach, and stadium management eventually beefed up security. The South African Police Service also arrived for the second stanza.

Stellenbosch, however, would be disappointed that they did not take advantage of the multiple chances they created throughout the game, but taking a two-goal cushion to DRC will be a welcome for Barker and his team.

Before jetting off to Kinshasa, DRC, Stellies have their first Premiership match of the season against Golden Arrows before they hop onto an aeroplane next Friday.