Remgro chairman Johann Rupert
Johann Rupert: The new face of SA soccer top brass
Stellenbosch FC enter the PSL for the first time, and with their introduction into the PSL, controversial businessman Johann Rupert also delves into the local soccer fraternity.
Remgro chairman Johann Rupert
Johann Rupert is a South African billionaire whose influence in the local political sphere , and is just days away from entering a new world with the Premier Soccer League (PSL) new boys Stellenbosch.
The Cape Winelands outfit jumped up into the SA football elite after gaining promotion into the local top flight at the end of the 2018/19 season.
This was after pretty much securing a spot in the upcoming campaign a week before the final matchday of the National First Division (NFD), beating the likes of Royal Eagles, Ajax Cape Nd Tshakuma Tsha Madivhandzila to automatic promotion.
Stellenbosch FC and it’s Johann Rupert connection
Kaizer Motaung, Irvin Khoza and Patrice Motsepe are the more famous names associated with the PSL, and businessman Johann Rupert is then latest to join the local football fraternity with Stellenbosch FC.The club – formed in 2016 – is owned by Rupert’s company Remgro.
In keeping with what the region is famous for, Stellenbosch FC’s crest consists of grapes.
“That was why we bought it – because we believe in using football as a tool to uplift the community. There are so many who play football and there are so many people who follow it. We have been doing so much social responsibility work in the surrounding communities in the area, which is why we thought it would be remiss of us not to secure the club for the Stellenbosch region.”
Edries Burton
The club’s Chiefs Operating Officer, former Bafana defender Edries Burton, says the outfit strives to connect return the Cape Winelands community.
“The name ‘Stellenbosch FC’ shows our intention of creating a club that symbolises the Cape winelands community,” he said.“We are on a pathway of building something special‚ and we want to take this community with us,” the club’s
Stellenbosch FC is not entirely new to the PSL, as an already existing entity was purchased in order to for the club.
Vasco da Gama were one of the more successful clubs outside the local top flight, gaining promotion to the big time on a couple of occasions before fading into obscurity.
They ceased to exist in 2016, after Remgro purchased the club, which is now based in Stellenbosch and is coached by former University of Pretoria mentor Steven Barker.
Stellenbosch FC kickstart life in the PSL with a trip to the Eastern Cape, where they square off against Chippa United first up.
The match takes place on Saturday, 3 August.
Tags:
