Barker Tackles the Challenge of Competing Against Sundowns’ Player Strength

Steve Barker, the head coach of Stellenbosch FC, shared insights on the challenges posed by Mamelodi Sundowns, attributing their success to their knack for attracting top-tier talent. He stressed that every team needs to devise strategies to confront their dominance.

Sundowns are renowned for their substantial financial clout, which enables them to recruit the best players. This season alone, they acquired Arthur Sales from SK Lommel for an impressive R62 million.
Additionally, they brought in Jayden Adams and Igraam Rayners from Stellenbosch, both of whom have emerged as key contributors to the Tshwane-based club.

While Barker acknowledges the reasons behind Sundowns’ ability to recruit elite talent, particularly with their aim to compete in the Club World Cup, he finds it difficult to counter their supremacy. In their 20 encounters, Sundowns have secured victory 14 times, while Stellenbosch has won four matches, with two resulting in draws.

Moreover, Sundowns regularly competes in continental tournaments and is currently in the final of the CAF Champions League.

“Confronting a team like that is incredibly challenging,” Barker remarked.

“Considering our situation, two of our top players from last season, Jayden and Igraam, have moved to Sundowns. Closing the gap between our team and one that recruits the best players feels daunting, but we must avoid that mindset.

“As each new season arrives, we must hold onto faith and hope that we can compete and devise ways to bridge that gap. It’s not their sole responsibility; I always emphasize this.

“Many may assert, ‘yeah, but Sundowns,’ but those are their goals—they aim to compete at the highest level, including the Club World Cup. It falls upon us to find methods to lessen that gap, even though they currently appear very dominant,” he noted.

Sundowns clinched the league title on Sunday with a 3-0 win over Chippa United, marking their eighth consecutive title and 14th overall in the PSL era.

Article by Kamogelo Ndlovu