Barker hails Stellenbosch growth as Royal AM loom

Stellenbosch FC have established themselves as a leading topflight side and are a force to be reckoned with according to coach Steve Barker, following a league win over Orlando Pirates and a place in the MTN8 semifinals.

The Winelands Club beat Pirates 1-0 in their DStv Premiership opener earlier this month and will face the same opponents in a two-legged MTN8 semifinal as they seek a first major trophy to underline their progress.

“It’s very rewarding because I think we’ve now established ourselves as a team to be reckoned with,” Barker said. “The aim is to be challenging for league titles and trophies and I feel like we are getting closer and that there has been that progression.

“Now we just need to find that belief, that determination and commitment to get into a final, and then once we’re there, to not only see that as an achievement but to go on and win that final.

“But first, we’ve got to beat Orlando Pirates, and that will be our first objective in the cup.”

Barker says that despite the confidence gained from their victory over Pirates in the league, the MTN8 semifinals will have a completely different dimension with home and away ties.

“Obviously, this will be a different sort of game and will be played home and away, so the nuances are a bit different, but we have to take confidence from beating them in the league in the first game of the season.

“It’s our second semifinal in the space of a few months and the disappointment of not reaching the Nedbank Cup final is still there, but we now have another chance to address that.

“We’re under no illusions though, Pirates are a strong team and the reigning champions of the MTN8, and they won two trophies last season.

“They will be a formidable opponent but we