Stellenbosch FC coach Steve Barker has set his sights on booking a CAF Confederations Cup group stage spot in the club’s maiden season of participating in a continental competition. 

The Cape Winelands outfit eased past Nsingizini Hotspurs of Eswatini in the first preliminary round of the interclub competition with an aggregate score of 8-0 over a two-legged tie last month. 

Now, Barker’s charges are set to host DRC giants and 2018 runners-up AS Vita in the first leg of the second preliminary round at DHL Stadium on Friday evening (19h00) as they aim to secure their ticket to the group stages. 

Stellies head into the encounter on the back of a five-match winning streak across all competitions, and they will be boosted by the return of key players Fawaaz Basadien and Jayden Adams from their national duty. 

“We’ve got a full squad to be able to select from,” Barker said. 

“The mood in the camp is upbeat, good, and positive energy, it’s a big opportunity for us a club to come up against one of the giants in African football. “If ever there’s an opportunity for us to stake our claim, where we want to be playing our football both locally and on the continent is to overcome a formidable opponent such as AS Vita. 

“So, it’s exciting, not only for myself but it’s exciting for the players and the club and we would like to perform over these preliminary stages and get ourselves into the group stages. 

“So definitely looking forward to the match.” 

Meanwhile, Devin Titus has expressed what competing at the highest level means to him, and believes the back-to-back victories over Mamelodi Sundowns in the MTN8 semifinals were a good stepping stone for the club ahead of the AS Vita clash. 

“It’s a privilege to be here, in this stage of the CAF Confederations Cup,” the Stellenbosch forward said. 

“The mood in the camp is very good, very happy and energetic as you know we are an energetic club. I think the two wins over Mamelodi Sundowns were very impressive for us. Playing against a team like Sundowns and winning both home and away was a very good stepping stone for us heading into the match against AS Vita and hopefully we can carry that momentum heading into these two matches against them, ” Titus added.

Article by Hlayisani Magoro