Stellenbosch head coach Steve Barker commended his players following their 1-0 win over Orlando Pirates in the Betway Premiership on Sunday, celebrating his 100th coaching victory at Orlando Stadium.
In the 33rd minute, Devin Titus broke free and netted a goal past Pirates goalkeeper Sipho Chaine, allowing Barker’s squad to redeem themselves after their earlier defeat in the MTN8 final against the same opponent in October.
This victory marked Stellenbosch’s third consecutive league win against Pirates, following two wins from last season.
“Where do I begin? Pirates started off strong. In the initial five to ten minutes, we had a tactical setup for different scenarios, but Releboholile Mofokeng and Mohau Nkota did well to exploit gaps between Mofokeng, Nkota, and Patrick Maswanganyi, putting us under pressure,” Barker commented post-match.
“However, we made good adjustments. Genino Palace dropped back to help contain Mofokeng, and our fullbacks, along with the wide midfielders, needed to tighten their play before moving into our defensive third. As a result, our structure improved, and the game became more stable for the rest of the half.
“Naturally, we excel in transition, which was evident once more when the ball was played to Ashley (Cupido), enabling Devin to deliver a perfect finish.
“We met our goal, concentrating on maintaining our structure and preserving the 1-0 lead until halftime.
“Pirates enjoyed significant possession and created several half-chances, and towards the end, they had a shot that went straight to Sage Stephens. Nevertheless, aside from that, we restricted them to minimal opportunities and defended solidly.
“I must emphasize how the Stellenbosch players continue to impress me with their bravery, commitment, work ethic, team spirit, and unity.”
Stellenbosch’s win followed a challenging 2-0 loss to Stade Malien in the CAF Confederation Cup. “We faced a tough week, traveling on Sunday and arriving in Cape Town only on Friday. We then had to travel again to play against a team that had won seven consecutive league matches and already secured a trophy (MTN8) this season,” he remarked.
Barker acknowledged assistant coach Wesley Sergel for the team’s tactical organization.
“They were filled with confidence, so for us to achieve results like this, all the credit goes to the players for their hard work and to assistant coach Wesley Sergel, who is an exceptional tactician. The way we organized the team was outstanding,” he asserted.
“Hats off to the players; this is a significant triumph for us, and consecutive wins at Orlando Stadium hold great importance. I believe this marks my 100th win as Stellenbosch coach, and achieving it under these circumstances is truly special.”
