Thabo Moloisane Stellenbosch FC star Thabo Moloisane (right) battles for possession with Ahmed Sayed of Zamalek at Cape Town Stadium on Wednesday. Photo: BackpagePix
Image: BackpagePix
For a team that was barely three years old by the time their opponents had already won the CAF Champions League on five occasions, continental newbies Stellenbosch FC showed they had both the ability and temperament to go toe-to-toe with the very best Africa has to offer.
After an intriguing goalless draw in their Confederation Cup first-leg quarter-final against Zamalek of Egypt at Cape Town Stadium on Wednesday afternoon, Steve Barker’s team now head to Cairo on April 9 with a genuine chance of extending their dream run.
There’s no doubt the trip to the mythical land of pharaohs and pyramids will be much more intimidating, especially after only a handful of travelling Zamalek supporters group drummed up plenty of noise inside a virtually empty DHL Stadium to hand Stellies a taste of the bedlam expected.
But before that, Barker can look back on a tactical masterclass as he outsmarted his more illustrious Portuguese counterpart, Jose Peseiro.
The essential element of hosting the first-leg tie for Stellenbosch was always not conceding an away goal to the White Knights.
On a sunlit but cool autumn Cape Town afternoon, this was duly achieved with a compact Stellies midfield not providing Zamalek’s playmakers such as Zizo any space to unleash their trickery and skill.
In fact, it was the hosts who enjoyed the best opportunities in the first half to open the scoring.
Former New Zealand international Andre de Jong went down in the box and immediately protested strongly for a penalty, but although VAR is in use for CAF Confederation Cup matches, the referee’s decision was not reviewed.
Fresh from an impressive outing for Bafana Bafana in the Fifa World Cup qualifier against Benin in the Ivory Coast, Fawaaz Basadien once again showed off his educated left boot, with the wing back delivering a teasing ball into the Zamalek box.
Unfortunately for the home side, striker Ashley Cupido could not stretch his lanky frame a bit further to get on the end of the inviting cross.
Stellies continued to press for the opener after the halftime interval, and came closest when Genino Palace tried valiantly to toe poke the opener, but was instead denied after colliding with Zamalek goalkeeper Mohamed Oussato.
Both players required attention from the medical staff after the collision.
Zamalek’s pedigree, though, is not without reason.
After being content to play second fiddle to their hosts for the first hour, they gradually grew in confidence and started to move upfield.
Ahmed Sayed showed their intentions with a left-footed pile-driver that was directed straight at Sage Stephens in the Stellies’ goal.
Stephens, though, had to be a lot more agile in the dying moments of the game when Mostafa Shalaby sent in a cross that found Nasser Mansi inside the Stellies goal area.
Mansi’s header was though acrobatically parried by a scrambling Stephens onto the Stellenbosch upright to ensure the men in maroon could head to Cairo with a genuine chance at making history next Wednesday.