Barker On How Their Success In CAF Will Help Them Beat Usuthu
Stellenbosch coach Steve Barker says everyone at Stellies is motivated following their great display in the CAF Confederation Cup, and that will help them ahead of the AmaZulu game.
The 2023 Carling Knockout champions recently reached the semifinal of the Confederation Cup after beating the defending champions of the competition, Zamalek.
Stellies are now set to face AmaZulu in the Betway Premiership match at Danie Craven Stadium on Tuesday [19:30].
Speaking ahead of this game, Barker revealed that reaching the semifinal of the Confederation Cup gave them a big motivation, which will make them do very well in all games in the Premiership.
“It generally has to give us lot of confidence, you know the ability to have got past in a team like Zamalek home and away, and to qualify for the semifinal,” said Barker, who previously coached AmaZulu.
“The confidence in the team is good; there’s a belief in one another, and the trust in each other is on another level.
“So, it’s important that we also take that over to our league matches because there’s six league games left and we are ready for them even though it will be not easy.”
This will be the second time these two rivals face each other in the Premiership this season, as Barker’s side hammered Usuthu 5-0 earlier this year. Despite that, Barker added that Usuthu would give them a tough game.
“It’s a massive game for us in the league; obviously, you know it’s important for us to get points after the adjusted log; you know we need to fight for that third position, which is important for us because we want to continue playing in the continent,” he added.
“Yes, it’s a massive game against a team that has turned their fortunes around this season. So, we are expecting a tough encounter, but our preparations have gone really well.
“The mood in the camp is really high after our success in reaching the semifinal of the confederation cup.
“But we are very cognizant of the fact that the league is very important for us, so it’s important for us to be able to get three points against AmaZulu.”
Stellies currently lie in fifth place with 35 points after 22 games in the Betway Premiership. Usuthu, on the other hand, have 30 points having played 24 games, and they are seventh.
