Barker: No Grudges Against Chiefs
Stellenbosch coach Steve Barker says he harbours no grudges against any opponent after his side finally ended their losing streak by eliminating Kaizer Chiefs in the Carling Knockout Round of 16 on Sunday.
Barker’s men had been on the losing end against Chiefs in recent meetings, with Amakhosi winning the previous four encounters — including this season’s league opener at Athlone Stadium.
Chiefs also claimed six league points over Stellies last season and knocked them out in the Nedbank Cup quarterfinals before going on to lift the trophy.
However, in front of a packed crowd at DHL Stadium in Cape Town — where kick-off was delayed by 30 minutes due to thousands of fans still queuing outside — Stellenbosch frustrated Amakhosi throughout the match.
Substitute goalkeeper Sage Stephens became the hero after saving Dillan Solomons’ sudden-death penalty to send Stellies into the quarterfinals.
“I’m never one to hold grudges or to look to beat a team because of one, two, three,” Barker said after the game.
“But I had a strong sense of motivation going into this one, and my message to the players was simple — this is an opportunity for redemption.”
“We had close calls; we had red cards go against us in tight games. Having lost to them three times last season and already this season, apparently, we played five times in one calendar year, so it was important for us not to lose the fifth game on the trot against them.
“The message was clear: it is our opportunity to just first of all, to win the game and get to the last eight. The main objective and the second objective were to try to keep 11 players on the pitch as long as possible, which we did today [on Sunday], fortunately, until the last bit of the game.
“But it was an important win for us against a team that basically been beating us too regularly from our own liking.”
Stellenbosch finished the game with 10 men after right-back Thapelo Mokobodi received a straight red card in the 106th minute for bringing down Pule Mmodi, who was clean through on goal.
Despite being a man down, Stellies held their nerve and triumphed in the shootout. They will now face Marumo Gallants in the quarterfinals after Gallants stunned Mamelodi Sundowns — also on penalties — at Lucas Moripe Stadium on Saturday.
