Stellenbosch FC coach Gavin Hunt has confirmed that several Mamelodi Sundowns players are set to bolster his squad ahead of the CAF Confederation Cup return leg against CR Belouizdad. Stellenbosch FC coach Gavin Hunt believes his side will emerge stronger from their Caf Confederation Cup setback against CR Belouizdad as they prepare for a decisive return leg, with squad reinforcements also set to boost their campaign. Stellies suffered their first defeat of the group stages on Sunday evening after going down 2–0 to the Algerian outfit, a result that leaves the Cape Winelands side second in the group standings, two points adrift of Belouizdad at the halfway mark.
The Cape Winelands side were originally scheduled to face Golden Arrows on Wednesday, but with their continental commitments, the clash has been postponed. This has afforded Hunt valuable time to refocus his squad ahead of a crucial return leg that could play a major role in determining their chances of progressing to the next round. Reflecting on the loss, Hunt admitted that his side struggled to cope with the early intensity but insisted the experience would serve as an important learning curve for his relatively young squad.
“We wanted to see out the first 20 minutes to try and get a foothold in the game,” Hunt said during the post-match press conference. “But the speed and pace of the game certainly caught us off guard. It was a difficult start, but I thought we grew into the game a little more. We are a young side competing against very experienced players.
