Newcastle’s oldest team remains a fixture

Stella Football Club is 69 years old this year.

Established in 1945 to unite the Lennoxton community, Stella FC is one of the oldest soccer teams in Northern Natal.

This is a feat that would not have been achieved if had it not been for the team’s founding members, Nandalal Gajee, Harrilall Parbhoo, Ranjith Sewraj Singh, Ramouthar Mahabeer Singh, Parasram Maharaj, Harrichand Ramsunder, Jaipal Singh and Hurrichand Mathura Ghazi .

The club reached some memorable heights through the years, including clinching the Natal Cup in 1980, 1982 and 1984. It was also the first soccer team in the country to sign up an African player during the apartheid regime.

Despite the team’s illustrious history in town, it seems interest in soccer has subsided.

Paul Bansropan, the team’s manager, said the youth was not interested in soccer.

“Stella FC officials are willing to promote soccer in schools and interested parties are to contact the management team,” he informed.

Premie Singh, previous manager of Stella FC, encouraged the community as a whole to become involved in local football.

“The more people who join, the better. We appeal to all older members to step forward too. We had under 12, under 14 and under 16 teams at one stage and we would like to see soccer becoming popular again,” said Mr Singh.

Mr Bansropan thought if Newcastle West focused on soccer, Newcastle could have a team which could represent the town in matches against neighbouring towns such as Dundee and Glencoe.

To join Stella FC and become involved in soccer, contact Mervyn Maharaj on 076 659 7295, Paul Bansropan on 083 298 0086 or Premie Singh on 076 612 4567.