It will be packed; it will be awesome - Stubbs already counting down to Season 5

Sunrisers Eastern Cape captain Tristan Stubbs can’t wait to see St George’s Park bathed in orange once again as the defending Betway SA20 champions prepare to open their Season 5 title defence against Pretoria Capitalss - a repeat of last season’s final - on 17 January 2027.

The Sunrisers are the most successful franchise in SA20 history, with three titles and a runners-up medal in four seasons. This has created an almost cult-like fan following in Gqeberha, with the Orange Army filling St George’s Park to capacity for each home match.

Stubbs therefore believes the home crowd’s appetite for a proper season-opening party in Gqeberha has never been bigger, with supporters having flocked to warm-up matches in the past just to see their heroes back in action.

“It will be awesome,” Stubbs said. “I think it starts like when we play a couple of warm-up games before and the social media teams put it out that there’s been people there. It’s like three, four days out.

“I know the public will be desperate for some sport by then. People come down from the nearby towns. Everyone’s in orange - it’s just so much fun. And yeah, to have the first game, hopefully some good weather. It will be packed, so it will be awesome.”

The Sunrisers skipper acknowledged the magnitude of kicking off the tournament as defending champions in front of their own supporters, with a fast start seen as key to setting the tone for the month ahead.

“It’s a big game to start. It’s probably what you want. Get the ball going. Got to be on it from day one, which will be awesome. And hopefully, we can really set the comp up for everyone from there,” he said.

Coach Adrian Birrell has a tried-and-tested formula regarding squad personnel but Stubbs feels that the upcoming season could be a breakout year for a couple of Sunrisers players if given an opportunity.

“I feel like we’re quite a settled side. He’s not that young, a guy like Mitch van Buuren. I feel like if he gets a game, he’ll just take his chance,” he said.

“JP King is also a really young, exciting talent. So, I think between the two of them, whenever they get a game, I feel like one of them, they will grab it with both hands.”