DailySun
Stellenbosch head coach Steve Barker commended his players following their 1-0 win against Orlando Pirates in the Betway Premiership on Sunday, celebrating his 100th coaching victory at Orlando Stadium.
In the 33rd minute, Devin Titus burst through and found the net past Pirates goalkeeper Sipho Chaine, allowing Barker’s squad to reclaim their pride after an earlier defeat in the MTN8 final against the same opponents in October.
This victory marked Stellenbosch’s third consecutive league win over Pirates, following two previous triumphs last season.
“Where should I begin? Pirates came out strong. During the initial five to ten minutes, we had a tactical plan for a few scenarios, but Releboholile Mofokeng and Mohau Nkota effectively exploited gaps between Mofokeng, Nkota, and Patrick Maswanganyi, putting us under pressure,” Barker commented after the match.
“However, we adapted well. Genino Palace dropped deeper to help contain Mofokeng, and our fullbacks along with wide midfielders needed to sharpen their play before pushing into our defensive third. As a result, we improved our structure, and the game became more manageable for the remainder of the half.
“Naturally, we thrive during transitions, which was clear again when the ball found Ashley (Cupido), leading to a perfect setup for Devin’s finish.
“We accomplished our goal by maintaining our structure and holding onto the 1-0 lead until halftime.
“Pirates had significant possession and created several half-chances. Toward the end, they had a shot that went directly to Sage Stephens. However, apart from that, we restricted them to minimal opportunities and defended well.
“I want to emphasize that the Stellenbosch players continue to amaze me with their courage, commitment, work ethic, team spirit, and unity.”
Stellenbosch’s win came after a challenging 2-0 loss to Stade Malien in the CAF Confederation Cup. “We faced a tough week, traveling on Sunday and only reaching Cape Town on Friday. We then had to travel again to face a team that had won seven consecutive league matches and already claimed a trophy (MTN8) this season,” he added.
Barker recognized assistant coach Wesley Sergel for the team’s tactical setup.
“They entered the game with great confidence, so all the credit for this result goes to the players for their hard work and to assistant coach Wesley Sergel, who is an outstanding tactician. The way we structured the team was impressive,” he expressed.
“Kudos to the players; this win is significant for us, and achieving consecutive victories at Orlando Stadium carries great value. I believe this marks my 100th win as Stellenbosch coach, and achieving it under these conditions is truly special.”
