PROFILE ISAACS OUT TO ENHANCE HIS REPUTATION
Stellenbosch FC forward Waseem Isaacs is finally an Absa Premiership player after years knocking about in the National First Division, seemingly unable to make the step up his early promise suggested.
He has been the leading forward for the newly-promoted side this season and can further enhance his reputation when Orlando Pirates travel to Cape Town on Saturday for a league clash.
Isaacs has scored four goals in his last five appearances and will fancy adding to that at the weekend with his pace and trickery on the ball against an at times static Pirates defence.
This 28-year-old is Cape Town born-andbred and started his career in the juniors at FC Cape Town, before a move to Slovakian side MFK Zemplin Michalovce for the 2011/12.
He was an instant regular there, making 33 starts as a winger or right-back as the team finished in mid-table, but returned home and joined Vasco da Gama in the NFD.
It appeared as though it would be a temporary reboot before a move to a Premiership club, but for one reason or another, that expected transfer never happened.
He also played for Milano United and Cape Town All Stars, before his fortunes changed with a move back to FC Cape Town, who were later sold to form Ubuntu Cape Town in January 2016.
It was a good fit for him and despite the club being relegated in the 2018/19 campaign, he netted an impressive 13 goals, which earned the move to promoted Stellenbosch.
It was a total second only to current Stellenbosch forward Iqraam Rayners (19 goals), and this season Isaacs has managed to outshine his teammate.
He opened his account this this season in a 2-1 loss at Bloemfontein Celtic, before a brace against Black Leopards earned a 2-2 draw.
Isaacs also netted in the 2-0 away victory at Polokwane City that saw Stellenbosch secure their first win of the season, earlier this month.
He was an unused substitute in Saturday’s 1-0 loss to Pirates in the Telkom Knockout Last 16, but it is almost inconceivable that he will not start against The Buccaneers this weekend.