Zaahier Adams
Stellenbosch FC coach Steve Barker maintains that winning the Betway Premiership remains the ultimate prize for any football club.
Barker has achieved unprecedented success with the Winelands-based club over the past couple of seasons, steering the side to the Nedbank Cup final before tasting glory in last season’s Carling Cup. The excellent run in cup competitions has continued this season with Stellies defeating perennial league champions Mamelodi Sundowns over two legs to book a place in the MTN8 final for the first time.
Barker, though, feels that his side has the capacity to deliver a competitive league campaign after his team finished third behind Sundowns and Orlando Pirates last season.
“Cup competitions are nice, but the bread and butter is the league. Growing up as a footballer, and as a coach, the ultimate glory is winning league titles,” Barker said at the launch of the new season in Sandton yesterday.
“We want to win the league title. We want to go into the season knowing that it is possible, albeit very difficult. We are growing as a club. It is just about consistency.
“We came third last year, maybe unlucky not to finish second. We learned a few lessons in the last few games. It is about performing week in and week out.”
Stellenbosch will also have to manage their league aspirations along with a maiden appearance in the CAF Confederation Cup. They face Congo’s AS Vita in the second preliminary round in less than a fortnight.
Barker is fully aware that teams have struggled with an overcrowded schedule, but believes his team can manage despite losing a couple of key players such as former captain Deano van Rooyen at the beginning of the season.
“We are mindful of that. We are doing our own homework. Teams like us, at this stage of our development, have generally not been as successful in cup competitions and the League,” Barker said.
“But I just think we are building a squad where we have good players in every position. Its about making sure we focus on one game at a time. You cannot focus too far ahead. It is about the next challenge.”
Meanwhile, Western Cape rivals Cape Town City will be looking to build a strong league campaign after losing their MTN8 semi-final to Pirates.
“No shame in losing to Pirates. Ever since coach Jose (Riveiro) joined, especially in cups domestically, they are the best,” said City assistant coach Lebogang Manyama.
“We had a chance to finish it in Cape Town, but Sipho (Chaine, the Pirates goalkeeper) was unbelievable in the first leg. There are a lot of positives to take. We know we are going to be better. We showed what we could do.
“We built the squad so we can compete, dominate, but there is still a lot of room for improvement. Pirates showed us what we need to do to get to their level.”