Njabulo Blom is back in South African football, and the timing has fans talking. Stellenbosch FC have completed a season long loan deal for the midfielder from Indonesian Super League side Borneo Samarinda, and his new club could face his old one within weeks.
It’s a good story on a few levels. A player who grew up in the Kaizer Chiefs system, tried his luck in the United States, then went all the way to Indonesia, is now home again with a real chance to get his career back on track in the Betway Premiership.
The Deal Was Done Just In Time
Stellenbosch FC made the announcement on Friday morning, confirming that everything was wrapped up just before Monday’s transfer deadline. There wasn’t much room to spare.
Blom, who’s 26, has already touched down in Stellenbosch and started training with his new teammates. He wasted no time linking up with coach Gavin Hunt, someone he knows well from his days at Kaizer Chiefs.
He’ll spend the rest of the season with the Maroons, which is what most people call Stellenbosch FC these days. In a lot of ways this is an easy fit for him, since he already understands what South African football demands and he’s used to settling into new places quickly.
A Player With A Well Travelled Career
Njabulo Blom has never been one to stay put for long. He came through at Kaizer Chiefs and built his name there as a hard running, versatile midfielder. From there he headed overseas to join Major League Soccer club St Louis City in the United States.
After that stint in America, he came back to Kaizer Chiefs for a second spell before eventually moving to Indonesia to sign for Borneo Samarinda in the Indonesian Super League. Now, thanks to this loan, he’s back in the Betway Premiership where local fans can actually watch him play week to week again.
Bouncing between countries and leagues like that isn’t easy. It takes a certain kind of discipline to keep adjusting to new coaches, new teammates, new cultures. Blom has done it more than once already, so settling in at Stellenbosch FC shouldn’t take him too long.
Reuniting With Gavin Hunt
A big part of why this move happened comes down to one man: Gavin Hunt. The two worked together at Kaizer Chiefs, and by the sound of it, that relationship had a lot to do with Blom picking Stellenbosch FC over other offers.
After arriving, Blom said he was genuinely excited to start this new chapter. He pointed out that Stellenbosch runs a tight, professional operation, and that players who’ve come through there before have gone on to do well for themselves. That, he said, made it feel like the right place to grow and get back to playing regularly.
He also had plenty to say about working under Hunt again. According to Blom, the coach expects a lot from his players, and that kind of pressure is exactly what he needs to sharpen up and find his best form. Coming from someone who’s played under him before, that carries some weight.
The Number 35 Jersey And A Possible Chiefs Reunion
Stellenbosch FC have handed Blom the number 35 shirt for the rest of the campaign. A new number, a new badge, a fresh start all around.
Here’s where things get interesting for supporters. Stellenbosch FC are due to play Kaizer Chiefs in the Betway Premiership on Saturday, 17 October 2026. That opens up the possibility that Blom could make his debut for his new team against the very club where he made his name.
For South African fans, that’s the kind of subplot that makes an already big fixture even bigger. Seeing a former Amakhosi man line up on the other side so soon after leaving is never something people scroll past.
Blom Joins Other Former Chiefs Players At Stellenbosch
He won’t be the only one with Kaizer Chiefs history in the Stellenbosch FC dressing room either. George Matlou, Given Msimango, and Ashley du Preez all have ties to Amakhosi too.
That growing list says something about how Gavin Hunt has shaped this squad, leaning on experienced South African players who know the league inside out. It should also make life a bit simpler for Blom, having familiar faces around while he finds his feet.
Where Stellenbosch Stand Right Now
At the moment, Stellenbosch FC sit seventh on the Betway Premiership table. Two wins, two draws, and one loss in their last five matches, which is a solid enough run. Bringing in someone like Blom adds real depth to that midfield as the season rolls on.
A player with his mileage across different leagues, plus his familiarity with how Gavin Hunt likes his teams to play, could make this transition an easy one for everyone involved.
What This Move Means Going Forward
At this stage of his career, Njabulo Blom just needs regular, competitive football, and this move gives him exactly that. Stellenbosch FC, in turn, get a proven midfielder who’s played top flight football on three different continents.
Fans of the Betway Premiership should mark 17 October 2026 on their calendars, when Stellenbosch FC meet Kaizer Chiefs. Whether Blom starts that game or not, his return to South African football adds a layer of intrigue that wasn’t there before.
Anyone wanting to keep track of the full Betway Premiership schedule and standings can check the official South African Football Association website for the latest fixtures and results.
This loan isn’t just another transfer on the list. It’s a homecoming, a reunion with a coach he trusts, and quite possibly the start of one of the more interesting storylines of the South African football season.
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