Steve Barker seeking comforts of home to revive Stellenbosch FC's fortunes

Stellenbosch FC coach Steve Barker has called on his under-pressure team to produce “perseverance and resilience” in their upcoming two home Betway Premiership matches. 

Stellies suffered a 2-1 defeat to AmaZulu on Wednesday evening - their third consecutive reversal including last weekend’s MTN8 Cup final loss to Orlando Pirates - and now find themselves languishing in 13th position on the League table. 

Barker was hoping for his side to bounce back at the Princess Magogo Stadium, but instead a two-goal blitz from Usuthu’s Hendrick Eikstein sunk the Winelands club further into the quagmire.

The next challenge is Richards Bay, who are two places ahead of Stellies on the table, at the Danie Craven Stadium tomorrow (Saturday) followed by a head-on collision with another high-flying KwaZulu-Natal outfit Durban City on Wednesday.

“Yeah, look, I think the message is quite clear.  You know, everybody, 14 other teams, ships were in the harbour on the weekend, all nice and safe,” Barker said.

“We had to go out to the seas and the sea robbers got the better of us in that match. Obviously difficult to then go back to Cape Town and then again fly to Durban. 

“So, we've had a challenging start to the season. We have more than enough in the tank to get our wins. Obviously, we've got back-to-back home games. Fortunately for us, against Richards Bay, Durban City, and then away to Chippa next weekend.

“So yeah, it becomes a massively important three matches for us to pick up points and just settle ourselves, settle the team.”

Barker has had to manage a revolving door at Stellies with key players leaving at the end of each season the past three years. The 57-year-old has never complained and simply gone about the business of rebuilding his team each season, and often with plenty of success. 

However, after the MTN8 final defeat to Pirates, Barker lamented for the first time it was “bittersweet” to see the likes of midfielder Sipho Nduli pulling the strings for the Buccaneers instead of the Maroons. 

He again admitted that it “was always going to be difficult to just find our feet” after the departures but believes that the squad does not need beefing up before the transfer window shuts as significant recruitment has already been done. 

“I'm satisfied with the squad that we have. I don't believe we need any strengthening. I just believe we need perseverance, resilience, a bit of patience and a bit of just belief and trust in our processes,” Barker said.

“We've brought in really good replacements in Mthetheleli Mthiyane. Turan Manafov (Azerbaijan youth international) was his first sort of minutes that he's played. I think over time he'll show his qualities that he has.

“We've got Muzomuhle Khanyi, who's just recovering from an illness, that is also available. Those are some of the signings that we've brought in. Henry Stanic, Thapelo Mokobodi you could see the quality that he has in midfield.

“I'm happy with the squad that we have. It's just a matter of time before we just figure out and get everybody ticking and everybody playing as a team, getting to know each other better, the strengths of each and every individual. I have no doubt in my mind that we will turn out to still have a really special season.”