Stellenbosch coach Steve Barker has welcomed the FIFA break, saying it will help him and his boys to heal after they painfully lost the MTN8 trophy at the hands of Orlando Pirates at the Moses Mabhida Stadium on Saturday. 

Stellies fell victim to what is beginning to be a norm in South African football, a dubious referring decision that decided their fate in a 3-1 loss to Pirates in the MTN8 final, especially the second goal scored by Tshegofatso Mabasa.  

A quick free kick taken from more than five meters away from the initial foul position helped the Buccaneers register their second goal, taking a lead in additional time before finding a third in the game’s last action. 

The Stellenbosch coach stressed that he would avoid sounding like a sore loser, swallowing sour grapes, but insisted that his team utilize the upcoming international break, a blessing in disguise to help them mend their hearts after a disappointing loss. 

“One can’t cry over spilled milk for too long, you know we need to get over it. Fortunately, there is a bit of a FIFA break, so it gives us time to just heal from the disappointment and there is a lot to play for, there is a Carling Cup to defend that is starting soon,” suggested Barker. 

Despite acknowledging the learning take-outs in their defeat, the Carling Cup winning coach insists that odds were stacked against Wineland’s club, further suggesting that Pirates defender Thabiso Sesane should not have been featuring due to a previous offense against Richards Bay. 

“We have a team of players that are young, and determined and yes it will be a setback, it will hurt, but sometimes the pain makes you grow stronger, and it makes you realize things you could have done better during the rest of the game to be able to compensate for that. I mean even Sesane should probably not be playing this evening, against Cape Town City blatantly standing on a player and even last week, so a lot went against us,” said the 56-year-old. 

Consistently displaying an expensive brand of football, a Pirates vs Stellenbosch fixture has grown to be one of the most exciting encounters in South African football, with the last five games consisting of not a single draw and amounting to a staggering 15 goals.

The Stellies gaffer however passed a stern warning to the Soweto giants asserting, “Congratulations to Orlando Pirates for what they have achieved but yea, they must know that we are knocking on the door. We are not going to stop harassing and we’re going to keep pushing and I believe we will get our time soon enough.”