Barker – A Magnificent Day For Us

Stellenbosch head coach Steve Barker has hailed his team’s 3-0 victory over DStv Premiership champions Mamelodi Sundowns as a ‘magnificent day’ for the club.

It was certainly a memorable 14th of May for Stellenbosch, with the club’s Diski Challenge team securing the league title earlier in the day.

Barker’s first team then capped it off with the surprise 3-0 victory over Masandawana at the Tuks Stadium, with Ashley Du Preez scoring a brace.

“For the whole football club today’s a special day,” Barker told the media.

“To achieve what we’ve done with the youngsters to come here in the backyard of Sundowns and to beat them 3-0. 

“The season started well, 11 games unbeaten, had a bit of a wobble midway, but we sort of recovered and finishing strong, so one more game, big derby next week against Cape Town City. 

“We achieved our objective of a top eight, now we can dream of even higher up the table. So ja, a magnificent day for us.”

Barker went on to explain that the victory came from a solid defensive performance.

“Ja, I think when you play Sundowns it starts with defending well, so we had to do that,” Barker explained. 

“You know, they’re a team, if you give too much time on the ball, they can just get comfortable so they don’t like the team that’s in their face and a bit aggressive in the defence. 

“And we knew that they would leave a high line, just the way they have possession so deep in our half, that anytime an opportunity was to play Ashley in behind, we knew his pace would cause them problems, which it did with the two goals. 

“And obviously, our third goal was a bit of class from the youngster Jayden Adams, and then after that, it was just really suffering as a team, out of possession, just really closing, going with runners pressing, so ja, very proud of the effort.”

To read the FREE digital version of the iDiski Times newspaper, with interviews with Pavol Safranko, Thandani “Bibo” Ntshumayelo, who opens up on how recovered after being found guilty for using drugs, Miguel Timm and Kegan Johannes as well as a feature on the players on Kaizer Chiefs’ exit list and the latest rumours about Happy Mashiane and which AmaZulu defender Orlando Pirates are after, click below!