Stellenbosch FC head coach Steve Barker wasn’t happy with a point against Orlando Pirates, saying his team should’ve beaten the Buccaneers at Danie Craven Stadium.
Barker’s side held Pirates to a 1-1 draw on Tuesday evening, which was the club’s second draw in as many games.
The Cape Winelands team came to this game without eight players, forcing the coach to put his trust in several youngsters, including 19-year-old Oswin Andries who received the Man of the Match award despite being played out of position.
“No, I wouldn’t say [I’m happy with the point]. I’m disappointed, it should’ve been three,” Barker said after the match.
“We outplayed them in the first half. I’ve never seen a Stellenbosch football team play the way we did. A penalty that was not given, an elbow, which is a second yellow, which is a red card, is not given. The free-kick that’s given that leads to the goal.
“So I’m not happy with the point, we deserved more. We totally outplayed them, especially in the first half. In the second half, I think it turned a little bit even.
“To have eight players not available for the game, give a debut to the youngster at the back, played him out of position to be a Man of the Match, I can only be proud of the effort. It is a bad result for us.”
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When asked whether he is happy that his team “pushed” one of the league’s biggest clubs like Pirates, Barker insisted his side can go pound-for-pound with any team in the league.
“I don’t wanna sound arrogant but we don’t want to a be club that says ‘we pushed Pirates’. Why must we be push Pirates,” he added.
“Pirates are the same team in the league, there is 11 players on the pitch. There’s no sort of reason to ask ‘ you pushed them’ because we’re a good team. We can push any team in the league.”
