Barker backs Stellenbosch to learn from tough start for sold out MTN8 final

Stellenbosch FC have quickly grown into one of the Premiership’s most ambitious sides, and while they are still seen as punching above their weight, Steve Barker’s team continue to challenge South Africa’s traditional giants. That spirit will be on full display when they meet Orlando Pirates in the MTN8 final.

In what has been confirmed to be a sold-out affair, Steve Barker and his charges will get a second bite at the Sea Robbers in the final at Mbombela Stadium next week Saturday.

The last time the two sides clashed in this competition was in last season’s final, and with a 3-1 defeat deeply rooted as a scar — one that denied Stellies their second-ever trophy — the hope will be for a better outcome this time around.

Momentum leans slightly toward the Buccaneers, who edged Stellenbosch 1-0 in their league meeting earlier this season and have shown greater consistency heading into the final.

Meanwhile, It has been a tough start to the campaign for the Cape Winelands outfit, who in their first five matches managed only one win. The positive, though, is that they now face a slightly less demanding run of fixtures after opening against three of the league’s heavyweights.

The Stellies mentor admitted he had expected a difficult start but was still hoping for a better return than the four points his side managed. He remains optimistic, however, that the lessons learned will strengthen the team going forward.

“When the fixture list came out we could see that it’s not an easy start. Sundowns are a really good team, so are Pirates, Chiefs have settled, they made some good acquisitions to their squad, so we always knew it would be a difficult start.

“But we tried to make it feel like even though it was difficult, it’s also exciting because if you come out of the five games with seven or eight points, it allows you hopefully the opportunity in the next five matches to get momentum, to go on unbeaten runs and back-to-back wins.

“But it turned out not to be with three 1-0 losses. It’s a tough start, we need to reflect, there is a lot of learnings to be done. Too often it’s been a bit of a pattern against all three teams where they started better than us and got a goal they probably deserve because of their dominance.”

Barker added that it will be important to improve on some of their shortfalls when the season continues, pointing to their 2-0 semi-final win against Sekhukhune United as a match that set the standard.

The Stellies boss also looked forward to new signings getting more time to settle in and contribute after the international break.

“When we come back, we just have to get a better mentality and a mindset to start games a lot more aggressive and on the front foot, like we did against Sekhukhune at home, which set us up with a 2-0 win to take us to the final.

“A lot of lessons to be learnt but after the Fifa break we would have settled and incorporated all our new signings. Then it will be our opportunity to kickstart our league campaign.”