Stellenbosch FC head coach Steve Barker reacted to the MTN8 semi-final draw saying everyone wanted to draw his side.
Stellies narrowly defeated SuperSport United 1-0 in the quarter-final at the Peter Mokaba Stadium on Sunday and were drawn against defending champions Orlando Pirates, who thrashed Sekhukhune United 5-0 in the last eight encounter for the semis.
With the other semi-finalists being Mamelodi Sundowns and Kaizer Chiefs, Barker believes all of them wanted to face his less-fancied side in the next round.
“When you’ve got Chiefs, Pirates and Sundowns in the pot no game would have been easy,” said Barker right after the draw.
“So you know we’ve played Pirates this season already in the opener, we acquitted ourselves well but we all know Pirates are a really, really good team.
“After their loss to us I think they scored eight goals against AM and uh who did they beat 5-0, was it Sekhukhune? So you know they are a really good team.
“So it’s a tough, tough draw for us but if you want to win trophies, if you want to be champions at the end of the day, you have to beat good teams and we have to get past a good team in Pirates.
“So it will be a challenge but we have to look forward to it and take on the challenge. We’ve got nothing to lose.
“They will be the big favourites to get through and defend the trophy. So we can go there and just really give the best that we can and hopefully we can then have another big game in the final.
“So I think everybody was hoping to draw Stellenbosch [but] sometimes be careful what you wish for.”
When asked how much he wants a trophy this season, Barker added that being semi-finalists in two cups last campaign and the time they have been in the Premier Soccer League they have desires to lift at least one this term.
“Our desire as a football club is we want to challenge for trophies. So last year we were a bit unlucky in the MTN losing on penalties to make the semi-finals, losing on penalties to Sekhukhune in the semi-finals of the Nedbank,” he added.
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“So we got close, we got a taste and a feel of what it’s like being in the semi-final. So once again we find ourselves in a semi-final. There is the Carling Cup, there is the Nedbank, there is the league to play for.
“We are five years now in the PSL and we’ve laid a good foundation, so we believe that we are ready to challenge for a trophy this season and no way better to start than the beginning of the season.”
