Orlando Pirates outclassed us, says Stellies coach Steve Barker after MTN8 final defeat

Stellenbosch FC coach Steve Barker has admitted that Orlando Pirates “outclassed” his team in the MTN8 Final at the Mbombela Stadium on Saturday night.

Stellies were seeking revenge for a controversial defeat in last year’s final, but despite being goalless after 90 minutes the Winelands club slumped to a 3-0 defeat after extra time. 

It was the fourth consecutive MTN8 triumph for the Buccaneers.

“Look, firstly I think we have to congratulate Orlando Pirates to win a trophy four years in a row is not easy so well done to them,” Barker said.

“I thought during open play, the first 90 minutes there was no real better team than in the game, we could’ve maybe stolen it, they could’ve maybe got something but I thought it was an even match.

“I thought going into extra-time, we still looked like a team capable of going on and maybe winning but unfortunately they just sort of outclassed us, outplayed us in extra-time and once you concede the first goal, you obviously try to get back into it, you obviously get caught short in-behind and they got the second goal than it obviously became a very difficult task and they managed the rest of the game very well.”

The departure of key players, such as Sipho Nduli who faced his former team in the black-and-white of Pirates last night and Fawaaz Basadien to Sundowns, was also going to test Stellies’ depth this season and Barker admitted that his “Bomb Squad” coming off the bench did not have the firepower to stay with the Bucs the longer the game wore on.

“I thought there was a period in the second half where we looked like we were taking the ascendancy and when we were taking the ascendancy I thought we would maybe go for it,” he said.

“We made some substitutions, but I don’t think they had the impact that we needed them to have.

“So, 3-0 I think it’s not a total true reflection of the game but in all honesty, they were the better team in extra-time and based on that they deserved to win it." 

Barker has just a few days to lift his team’s spirits after the MTN8 Cup disappointment as they had to KwaZulu-Natal this week to face AmaZulu in the Betway Premiership at the Princess Magogo Stadium on Wednesday.