DStv Premiership: Sanele Barns – ‘Kaizer Chiefs were never an option’

Stellies were promoted from the Motsepe Foundation Championship in the 2018/19 season.

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They ended in 10th in their first campaign in the DStv Premiership, and while they only narrowly avoided relegation the following year, Stellies ended in an impressive fourth place in 2021/22.

Last season they managed six spot, but it was in the recently completed top-flight campaign that the club really began to shine – and narrowly missed out on second place on the last day of the season as they ended in third.

Barns was snapped up by Steve Barker’s side on a pre-contract from Richards Bay amid reports that Kaizer Chiefs and Cape Town City were also both chasing the player’s signature.

Barns said to iDiski Times: “Stellenbosch are playing good football at the moment, no one can deny that.

“So, my decision to go there is because they are competing. I need to make sure that when I go there, I’m competing as they do. I think I’m highly motivated to go there.”

Barns, who helped the Natal Rich Boyz avoid relegation to the Motsepe Foundation Championship via the play-offs, added: “To be honest there were rumours, but they [Chiefs] didn’t put anything on the table.”