Maxim Gullit: Stellenbosch Boss Steve Barker Explains Why Club Decided Not to Sign Dutch Defender

• Steve Barker has explained why Stellenbosch FC decided against signing Maxim Gullit
• The 22-year-old was reportedly undergoing assessment with the club for a few weeks
• The '87 Ballon d’Or winner's son debuted for Dutch side, AZ Alkmaar, in October 2020

Stellenbosch FC head coach, Steve Barker, has shed light on the club's decision not to sign Dutch defender, Maxim Gullit.

Gullit, aged 22, hails from a prestigious football lineage as the son of Dutch legend, Ruud Gullit, the 1987 Ballon d’Or winner.

The 22-year-old has reportedly spent several weeks undergoing assessment at the club but his signing was not finalised.

Barker said the youngster wasn't brought on board by the Stellies due to the club's full foreign quota.

He explained the Premiership club already had five players at centre-back, but did not rule out the possibility of signing him in the future.

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"It was a matter of having our foreign quota for this season full. In the centre-back position, we already have five this season. Come the end of the season, we will see what transpires in the market," Barker said, as quoted by iDiski Times.

Gullit, a product of AZ Alkmaar’s academy, debuted for the Dutch side in October 2020. He later joined Cambuur in 2021 but parted ways with the club in July of the same year after making nine first-team appearances.

Stellies face SuperSport in Nedbank Cup

Meanwhile, Stellenbosch is gearing up for a crucial quarter-final fixture against SuperSport United in the Nedbank Cup, aiming to secure a spot in the semi-final.

While the final match details are yet to be confirmed, the encounter is scheduled in Stellenbosch during the week of April 13, as reported on the club's official site.

Barker’s side defeated Pretoria Callies and Milford FC in the Round of 32 and Round of 16, respectively.

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Last season, the team reached the semi-final stage of the competition but narrowly missed out on a spot in the final after a penalty shootout defeat to Sekhukhune United.

Former Stellenbosch defender discusses MLS

Sports Brief has also reported on Olwethu Makhanya discussing moving to the MLS (Major League Soccer) in the United States.

He traded his Stellenbosch jersey for a Philadelphia Union kit in July 2023, right after the conclusion of the 2022/23 PSL season.

Makhanya contributed to their commendable sixth-place finish in the Premier Soccer League and a Nedbank Cup semis finish.