Harambee Stars defender parts ways with South African club
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Reading Time: 2min | Tue. 01.07.25. | 13:33
Mandela joined Stellenbosch at the start of the 2024–25 season and made eight appearances across all competitions
Harambee Stars defender Brian Mandela Onyango will be searching for a new home, ahead of the new season, following his departure from South African side Stellenbosch FC after just one season.
Mandela, who featured sparingly during the concluded campaign, exits the club after the expiry of his contract.
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Stellenbosch confirmed his departure in an official statement.
“Stellenbosch Football Club can confirm that Brian Onyango has departed the club following the expiration of his contract,” the statement read in part.
Onyango joined Stellenbosch at the start of the 2024–25 season and made eight appearances across all competitions.
He played a role in helping the club reach the MTN8 final and qualify for the CAF Confederation Cup.
During his time at the club, Mandela also made a return to the Kenya national team after nearly two years.
He featured in the 2026 World Cup qualifier against The Gambia in March and captained the national team in a friendly against Chad earlier this month.
“During his time in the Cape Winelands, the towering defender also returned to the Kenya national team for the first time in nearly two years, becoming just the third non-South African player to represent his country while at Stellenbosch,” the club noted.
His leadership was equally recognised, with the club praising his strong work ethic and influence in the dressing room.
“Despite the brevity of his stay with the Maroons, Onyango’s leadership and work ethic made him an influential figure in the dressing room and earned him a nomination for the 2024–25 SFC Sportsman of the Season award,” the statement added.
The club concluded by expressing gratitude and wishing him success in his future endeavours.
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“Everyone at Stellenbosch FC would like to thank Brian for his service to the club and wish him well as he embarks on the next chapter of his career.”
Mandela has been based in South Africa since 2012, when he joined Santos FC.
He later played for Maritzburg United and Mamelodi Sundowns before joining Stellenbosch.
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