Stellenbosch FC veteran goalkeeper Lee Langeveldt might not be playing much this season, but he is still there to challenge Oscarine Masuluke and Sage Stephens.
Langeveldt, instead of Masuluke, was sitting on the bench as Steve Barker’s side won the Carling Knockout trophy after they beat TS Galaxy 5-4 on penalties at the Moses Mabhida Stadium on Saturday after the game finished 1-1 in 120 minutes of football.
The 37-year-old started at Santos in the topflight between 2009 and 2014, before spending two years with Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila (TTM) in the Motsepe Foundation Championship.
He then joined Clinton Larsen’s Golden Arrows in the 2016/17 season, but he was released at the end of that term to sign for Stellies.
He helped Barker’s side to win the Motsepe Foundation Championship title in the 2018/19 season to gain promotion.
As this is his seventh season at the club, playing time comes harder after Stellies signed Masuluke, with Langeveldt featuring in just one game this term so far – the 3-1 victory over Royal AM in August at Harry Gwala Stadium.
“I’m there to challenge,” said Langeveldt when asked after the Carling Knockout Cup final.
“I’m here to challenge myself. If we challenge each other, that is where the quality comes up. You can see Sage Stephens’ performance, Masuluke’s performance.
“I’m still a player, still challenging until the club says anything. Of course, it is not easy because they are quality goalkeepers.
“If you look at other teams, they are struggling in goals.”
After almost 20 years involved in the beautiful game, this was Langeveldt’s first trophy in top-flight football.
“Yes, it is 19 years in football, and this is my first trophy,” explained Langeveldt.
“I don’t think I can say that after 19 years (I could have won a trophy), I feel I’m still honored to play the game, and the first trophy in 19 years. This is why we play football – to win trophies.
“Even if it was 20 years, I would have appreciated it. About the club, Remgro bought it because at Winelands there are no [PSL] teams in the area.
“Back in the day, I had to go and play for Santos, so for me, it is more than a football club, that is always trying to give back to the community.”
Stellies and coach Barker will be able to celebrate with more time as their next game on the 22 December against Sekhukhune United has been postponed due to the latter being involved in the CAF Confederation Cup.
The Cape Winelands club are unbeaten in 10 successive matches now across all competitions in a row, having won nine of those games.
