Barker Praises Team for Victory Over the Pirates
Stellenbosch head coach Steve Barker praised his players after their 1-0 victory against Orlando Pirates in the Betway Premiership on Sunday, marking his 100th coaching win at Orlando Stadium.
Devin Titus broke free and scored past Pirates goalkeeper Sipho Chaine in the 33rd minute, allowing Barker’s side to redeem themselves from their earlier loss in the MTN8 final against the same team in October.
This was Stellenbosch’s third straight league triumph over Pirates, following two wins last season.
“Where do I start? Pirates came out strong. In the first five to ten minutes, we had a tactical setup for a couple of scenarios, but Releboholile Mofokeng and Mohau Nkota were effective in exploiting gaps between Mofokeng, Nkota, and Patrick Maswanganyi, putting us under pressure,” remarked Barker after the match.
“Nevertheless, we adapted well. Genino Palace dropped deeper to help contain Mofokeng, and our fullbacks along with wide midfielders needed to tighten their play before advancing into our defensive third. Consequently, we improved our structure, and the game became more settled for the rest of the half.
“Naturally, we excel in transition, and it was evident again when the ball was played to Ashley (Cupido), setting up Devin for a perfect finish.
“We achieved our objective, focusing on maintaining our structure and preserving the 1-0 lead until halftime.
“Pirates did enjoy considerable possession and created several half-chances, and towards the end, they had a shot that went directly to Sage Stephens. However, aside from that, we limited them to minor opportunities and performed solidly defensively.
“I must highlight that the Stellenbosch players continue to impress me with their bravery, dedication, work ethic, team spirit, and solidarity.”
Stellenbosch’s victory followed a tough 2-0 defeat to Stade Malien in the CAF Confederation Cup. “We faced a demanding week, traveling on Sunday and only arriving in Cape Town on Friday. We then had to travel again to face a team that had won seven consecutive league matches and has already claimed a trophy (MTN8) this season,” he commented.
Barker credited assistant coach Wesley Sergel for the team’s tactical organization.
“They were full of confidence, so for us to achieve results like this, all the credit goes to the players for their effort and to assistant coach Wesley Sergel, who is an exceptional tactician. The way we arranged the team was remarkable,” he stated.
“Kudos to the players; this is a significant win for us, and consecutive victories at Orlando Stadium are incredibly meaningful. I believe it marks my 100th win as Stellenbosch coach, and accomplishing it under these conditions is truly special.”