Steve Barker calls on Stellenbosch FC to show character to revive Betway Premiership form

Stellenbosch FC coach Steve Barker wants his team to refocus on their Betway Premiership bread-and-butter when they face an in-form Marumo Gallants at the Danie Craven Stadium on Tuesday.

Stellies have been outstanding in the MTN8 competition, progressing to a second successive final against Orlando Pirates, after securing a 3-1 aggregate semifinal victory over Sekhukhune United last weekend. 

But The Maroons remain winless in the Premiership to place them 14th on the league table after defeats to both Soweto giants Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates with only a draw against Magesi FC to show for their efforts thus far after three matches.

The hype surrounding exacting revenge over the Buccaneers - both for last year’s controversial MTN8 final defeat and the league reversal at Soweto Stadium - will no doubt occupy the minds of the Stellies players, but Barker wants his team to focus on more pressing matters against a Gallants side that are sitting comfortably in fifth place with two victories - including one against Pirates - from three outings. 

“They (Pirates) are a good team. They showed midweek how good they are when they dominated us for the first 20 minutes,” Barker said.

“A lot of lessons from us that we learned on that. But we will only concentrate on that after the following week.

“We’ve got some league matches in between - as close as Tuesday. So, we need to get back to Cape Town to regenerate and get ourselves up and running in the league.

“And then Sundowns in the following week then we start preparing for the final.”

Barker feels Stellies’ position is not an accurate reflection of their gameplay in the League and rather a case of unfortunate circumstances coming together.

“I would be more concerned if we were not looking like we’re competitive in matches,” he said.

“I think obviously in the first game against Chiefs, the red card let us down. We showed a good response. We showed that we’re capable. Playing away to Magesi is never easy. And obviously away to Pirates is never an easy fixture,” he said.

“It hasn’t been an easy start. But I think we’ve got enough character and resilience in our squad that we will get our opportunity where we get ourselves on a good run.

“I’m confident that there will be a stage from the next game onwards up until game 10 where we’ll get some momentum.”

The first month of the season was always going to prove testing for Stellies after the departure of a couple of high-profile players during the off-season yet again and in conjunction with the arrival of their replacements. 

Barker was therefore pleased with the way midfielder Mthetheleli Mthiyane has settled in after joining the Winelands club from second tier Milford FC. 

Mthiyane, who is filling the void left by Pirates’ recruit Sihle Nduli, capped a Player of the Match performance against Sekhukhune United with his first goal for the club last Saturday at the Peter Mokaba Stadium.

Barker also lauded Mthiyane's contributions so far, suggesting he has settled in very well at the Cape Winelands club. The Stellies coach foresees the 24-year-old midfielder being an asset for the club for a very long time.

“I think when you join a new club and put in performances like he's done and you add an important goal to that, (it) just makes him feel part of the team from the beginning already, stamping his mark, showing his authority,'' Barker said of Mthiyane.

“We are really pleased to have acquired his services and he's going to be a very important player for us for a very long time.

"I feel even against Pirates he was close to win the Player of the Match award, obviously Sebelebele won it after scoring the winning goal but Mthiyane put in a massive performance there as well.”

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