From Bafana Bafana Midfielder to Successful Farmer: Sibaya’s Big Cargill Deal

Stellenbosch FC head coach Gavin Hunt believes his side have an equal chance of reaching the Carling Knockout Cup quarter-finals when they face Durban City at Chatsworth Stadium. The experienced coach has warned that the opposition will be difficult to beat, particularly because of their strength and impressive record at home.

The two teams meet in the final Last 16 fixture of the competition, with the winner securing the last available place in the quarter-finals. They will join Golden Arrows, Siwelele, AmaZulu, Sekhukhune United, Orlando Pirates, Mamelodi Sundowns and Kaizer Chiefs in the last eight.

Hunt spoke to local media on Monday ahead of the match and was asked by iDiski Times about facing Durban City, a team he coached at the beginning of last season. The 62-year-old acknowledged that he knows the club well after spending time helping to build its squad.

“Yeah, listen, I did a lot of work on that team. You know, I did a lot of work behind the scenes, getting players in there. So they’ve got a good nucleus of players there,” Hunt said.

He also highlighted Durban City’s physical strength and the challenge of playing at Chatsworth Stadium, where the home side have generally performed well.

“They’ve got a lot of power, a lot of strength, and generally their record’s been good at Chatsworth, so it’s not easy to go there, that’s for sure,” he added.

Despite recognising the threat posed by Durban City, Hunt remains confident in his own squad. He explained that Stellenbosch need greater stability in their team selection, although changes have often been influenced by player availability rather than a deliberate decision to rotate the squad.

“I think we’ve got an even chance, like they have as well,” Hunt said, adding that he has confidence in the players at his disposal.

The quarter-final draw will take place at Chatsworth Stadium after the match, determining the next stage of the competition.

Away from football, former Bafana Bafana midfielder Macbeth Sibaya has secured an agricultural supply agreement with Cargill South Africa worth more than R50 million, marking a major milestone in his post-football career. After retiring from professional football, Sibaya returned to his home province of KwaZulu-Natal and built a sustainable farming business. He invested heavily in crop production and refined his operations to meet commercial and industry standards. Under the multi-million rand deal, his farm will supply large volumes of grain to Cargill South Africa over several seasons. It reflects his successful career transition.

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