Moloisane, Mojela sting Congo giants AS Vita as Stellenbosch ...

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)

Cape Town Stadium

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 Kinshasa 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 in their eight year existence.

The Maroons has stormed into the Confederation Cup, effortlessly dismantling Eswatini's Nsingizini Hotspurs with an 8-0 aggregate win in the preliminary first round to set up the clash against the Black Dolphins.

With a rich history that includes a 1973 CAF Champions League triumph and close calls in 1981 and 2014, Vita are no strangers to African glory. They also narrowly missed out on the Confederation Cup title in 2018, making this clash on paper Stellies' toughest test yet.

The Cape Winelands outfit, fresh from securing a spot in the MTN8 final after defeating Mamelodi Sundowns, now face defending champions Orlando Pirates on 5 October.

However, their CAF Confederation Cup journey against Nsingizini Hotspurs came with a twist.

Due to heavy rainfall and rugby matches damaging the pitches at Danie Craven and Athlone Stadiums, Stellies had to relocate both legs to Durban's Moses Mabhida Stadium - a temporary home far from the Western Cape.

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

Beneath the glowing floodlights, Stellenbosch FC savored their first-ever home match in African competition, with a vibrant crowd adding to the atmosphere.

In a unique twist, a large portion of the support came from passionate Congolese fans, who turned up in droves, injecting their signature energy and flair into an already electrifying evening of football.

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's moment to shine.

The TS Galaxy recruit, who joined Stellenbosch at the start of the season, netted his third goal in just six matches.

His smooth transition to life in the Cape has clearly paid off, with the 27-year-old proving to be a key figure in Stellies' attack.

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 supporters grew increasingly frustrated, directing their ire at AS Vita head coach Abdeslam Ouaddou.

The visibly annoyed coach responded with a dismissive wave, but this only fueled the fans' anger, escalating their fury and turning the atmosphere even more tense.

As Ouaddou and his players retreated toward the dressing room, tensions boiled over, with Vita fans hurling objects at their coach in frustration.

Stadium management swiftly bolstered security, and by the time the second half commenced, the South African Police Service had stepped in to ensure order.    

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 embarking on their Confederation Cup journey to Kinshasa via Johannesburg for the second leg, Stellies face Golden Arrows in their first Premiership clash of the 2024/25 season.

With their sights set on both local and continental success, they'll handle business at Athlone Stadium on Wednesday (19:30) before hopping on a plane next Friday for their showdown in the heart of the DRC.

The week ahead will test their mettle, as they juggle league commitments with the high stakes of African football.