Barker Champions Stellenbosch Defenders For Season Award
Stellenbosch FC coach Steve Barker firmly believes his defensive trio – Thabo Moloisane, Fawaaz Basadien, and Ismael Toure – deserve recognition for the PSL Defender of the Season award, highlighting their impressive defensive record prior to their recent loss against Mamelodi Sundowns.
Despite a 3-0 defeat to league champions Mamelodi Sundowns in their Betway Premiership encounter on Sunday, the experienced 57-year-old tactician stood by his assessment. Barker emphasized the stellar performances of Moloisane, Basadien, and Toure throughout the season, both domestically and in continental competitions.
Moloisane has been a consistent presence, making 24 appearances and contributing to an impressive 10 clean sheets, alongside two goals and two assists. Ismael Toure has featured in 23 matches for Stellies, while Basadien has also played 24 times, adding three goals to his defensive contributions.
Even in the wake of the Sundowns’ loss, Barker remains steadfast in his conviction. “Before Sunday, we had only conceded 17 goals in the league, and I felt that for the Defender of the Season, I believe we have some really good candidates: Thabo Moloisane, Fawaaz Basadien, and Ismael Toure,” Barker stated. “So, you know, conceding three goals today was not part of the plan, but I still trust that we have defenders that deserve to be nominated.”
Barker further expressed his satisfaction with Stellenbosch’s overall performance throughout the season, acknowledging their achievements despite not securing any silverware.
Stellenbosch currently occupy a commendable fourth position in the league standings with 44 points. Their journey also saw them reach the MTN8 final (losing to Orlando Pirates), the Carling Knockout Cup quarter-final (knocked out by Marumo Gallants), and the Nedbank Cup quarter-final (eliminated by Kaizer Chiefs). On the continental stage, they reached the CAF Confederation Cup semi-final before being eliminated by Simba S.C.
Despite these eliminations, Barker remains proud of the team’s progress and believes they have established a solid foundation for future success.
“We’re doing well and we’ve got our model and our strategy, we’re doing really well in terms of that for a young team, to be where we are and challenging at the top end of the table and making semi-finals and making finals, I think,” he said.
“We’re happy with what we’re doing, and I do think we’ve laid a good foundation now, where perhaps the next step could be one to sort of find ways to kick up,” Barker stated.
