Stellenbosch head coach Steve Barker has described his team’s 1-0 win over Kaizer Chiefs as ‘a perfect evening’, as local hero Deano Van Rooyen scored the winner while fans attended their first DStv Premiership game at the Danie Craven Stadium.
It was a hard-fought victory for the sixth-placed home team, who have now joined Chiefs and Orlando Pirates on 39 points.
Barker was asked by iDiski Times journalist Rob Delport whether this result has now set them up for a strong push in their final four games.
“Yes, I’m happy. I think we didn’t start the year as well as we wanted to results-wise. I still believe that our performances warranted a bit more than what we were getting,” Barker replied.
“But now it’s important, and that was the key message to the players, that we can’t keep on saying that we played well and we had a good performance, but not get three points.
“Again, at half-time, I felt Chiefs were there for the taking, that we had to be ruthless and get the second and try and kill the game off, which we had opportunities, first half with Ashley [Du Preez] and then a couple of chances with Judas [Moseamedi].
“And then when you don’t get that second goal then obviously it can become a bit nervy. But I still believe that in that we still look dangerous on the transition.
“So ja, a perfect evening. The nice part was a lot of people came to watch today, some of them it’s their first-ever professional football match to come and watch and they had a positive experience. So hopefully, we can get a big crowd. We can maybe do what Maritzburg do and get 5000, 6000 every game, and some games maybe even more.”
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Barker said they couldn’t have written a more perfect script for their first top-flight game at the stadium with fans in their hometown
“It’s obviously great for us to have fans for the first time at this Danie Craven against Chiefs to get a 1-0 win, I just think was the cherry on the cake,” Barker said.
“To see a player like Deano van Rooyen, who’s lost both his parents within the last year, to come here and play in front of the crowd, get a goal, Stellenbosch born-and-bred.
“I don’t think one could have written the script better. So ja, it was a perfect evening, in my opinion, this evening, and ja, we need to enjoy the moment.”
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