Stellenbosch FC coach Steve Barker has insisted his side are ready to have a real go at defending champions Mamelodi Sundowns in the Nedbank Cup quarter-final on Saturday.
The Cape Winelands side aims to shift the focus to the ‘Cup Of Dreams’ even though they are not safe in the league. Steve Barker’s side has reached the Nedbank Cup quarterfinals for the first time in the club’s history and they want to make it into the next round at the expense of reigning champions Sundowns.
Stellies see themselves not far in the relegation zone but closer to the top eight. Barker emphasized that they put their energy and focus into the cup and then concentrate on the league when the league games come forward. They suffered two successive league defeats coming in the Nedbank Cup clash against Masandawana.
“I’ve always said and I’ll keep on saying it, but I think as footballers and as coaches, every game is as important as any other game,” Barker told the media.
“So we will put as much energy into this weekend’s game as we will for the rest of the season.
“Safety is not yet guaranteed. We still need to win one or two and obviously, I think the top eight is always a nice competition to start the season off with and you’re already in a quarter-final. So that is something to play for.
“However, this season, the only trophy that’s left for us to compete in is the Nedbank. So I think, once you start getting to a quarter-final stage, you have to have that in mind and really go for this as best as you can.
“So it’s not that we will drop the ball on one competition and not the other thing. We’ll just continue to put as much energy into the cup competition and then once the cup is over, concentrate on the league to big league matches against Swallows and Arrows next to two home matches.”
