Steve Barker and Eric Tinkler: A friendship on hold for the MTN8 semi-final

Steve Barker and Eric Tinkler will put their friendship aside when they face off in a crunch MTN8 semi-final second leg at the New Peter Mokaba Stadium on Saturday.

Stellenbosch coach Barker heads into this decider with the advantage after his team beat Tinkler’s Sekhukhune United 2-0 at home in the first leg.

However, Barker knows their job is far from done, given his familiarity with Tinkler both as a coach and as a person.

The two are friends off the pitch, having crossed paths several times — including in the classroom during a CAF coaching course last season.

Moreover, their rivalry as coaches — which has featured spells in the iKapa Derby between Stellies and the now-relegated Cape Town City — has fostered mutual respect for each other’s abilities.

“I have a huge respect for Eric,” Barker said. “I got to know him very well — not only through matches against City, but also when we completed our CAF A Licenses together.

“Eric is very astute when it comes to preparing his team tactically. He’s a strong character who has overcome a lot of adversity in his career and achieved great heights.

“As a person, I have massive respect for Eric. He’s a really good man, and a very good coach.

“Yes, we’ll respect each other on the field — and we are friends off it — but during the match it’s a battle. You want to win and progress to the next round.”

Barker and Tinkler broke into the coaching scene around the same time — Barker cut his teeth at University of Pretoria in 2014, and Tinkler started as an assistant coach at Bidvest Wits in 2012.

Since then, they’ve followed each other’s careers closely. In fact, Tinkler has praised Barker for turning Stellenbosch’s fortunes around after a difficult start to life in the top flight.

“I think Steve has been at Stellies for what, eight years now? You can clearly see the growth that has happened at the club,” Tinkler said.

“There’s an identity, a culture, and discipline. Let’s not forget, he’s an ex-military man. I think the club’s success comes from their patience with him.”

Those traits — both as a coach and as a person — have helped Stellenbosch become one of the fastest improving teams in the top flight in recent years.

They won their first silverware in 2023, lifting the Carling Knockout, finished third in back-to-back seasons, and competed in their maiden continental showpiece last season.

Barker has managed all of this with a constantly evolving squad, as the club’s business model has required him to sell several key players along the way.

The nephew of the late, legendary Clive Barker has also praised the rise of Sekhukhune since their promotion to the top flight four seasons ago.

“I think everyone here can agree that Sekhukhune have become a solid football team,” Barker said, cautioning that underestimating them in Polokwane would be dangerous.

“Since their promotion, they’ve been competitive. They’ve reached a Nedbank Cup final and are consistently pushing around the Top 3 and Top 4.

“Firstly, we know they are a good team. And when you face a good team with quality players, you have to understand that a 2-0 lead is precarious.

“If it goes to 2-1, the momentum shifts. I think the responsibility is on us to take the game to Sekhukhune. An away goal for us would mean they’d need to score four.

“So, I am confident we can’t allow them to dictate. It would be unwise for us to sit on a 2-0 lead and hope to see the game out.”