In only their third attempt, Stellenbosch’s Steve Barker looks determined to overcome Orlando Pirate’s cup experience when the two teams meet in the much-anticipated MTN8 final at Moses Mabhida, on Saturday.

They will be vying to lift their second trophy, having won the Carling Knockout Cup last season. However, between them and their second silverware, since they were founded in 2016, there stands the storied Buccaneers who boast 12 victories in this cup.

While they will go into this game as underdogs, history-wise, Stellenbosch has won three of their last five meetings with Orlando Pirates, a record they will be looking to lean on this coming Saturday.

Additionally, they became only the second team to beat Mamelodi Sundowns home and away in a two-legged domestic cup after Moroka Swallows in the 2000 Rothman’s Cup Round of 16. Despite this record, Stellenbosch head coach, Steve Barker believes they will be massively tested on Saturday.

“A difficult encounter for us on Saturday, but one that we are relishing. Last season, a lot of big [and] tight battles, we did come out on one or two of them which gives us that belief and confidence that it’s possible to beat a formidable team like Pirates,” Barker said.

Stellenbosch, who will need every advantage to overcome the history-hungry Pirates, are familiar visitors at Moses Mabhida Stadium having played both legs of their CAF Confederation Cup 1st Preliminary Round at Moses Mabhida Stadium before finishing the job against Sundowns in the return leg of the MTN  8 semi-final.

Regardless, the Soweto giants aren’t strangers too at the vaunted arena. They have played seven MTN8 finals since 2010, and six of those were in Moses Mabhida. In addition to four wins out of seven, they are hell-bent on adding the fifth one and becoming the first team to win the cup three consecutive times.

This gives them an edge of experience against the Stellies, the experience Barker is looking to overcome with passion

“To overcome experience, I think you just need to find other ways and sometimes it’s not always technically. It’s from the heart and the mind and you have got to play with your heart on your sleeve and that’s one thing that we will do. There’s no doubt that we will give everything that we have, we will bare our souls out on the field,” explained the coach.

Stellenbosch’s rapid rise in South African football has already seen them lift silverware in their short existence, but coach Steve Barker knows that winning a major cup final is another challenge entirely. Reflecting on what a victory would mean for the club; he spoke passionately about the significance of this moment.

“I won’t do justice by just using words [to describe] how it will mean for us as a football club. In our short existence to have been in a final and won a trophy. We have realized and know that getting into finals is tough but winning a final is even tougher,” admitted Barker.

As the football world looks forward to a showdown that promises thrills and spills, one thing is certain: only one team will etch their name in history on Saturday, and both sides are prepared to leave everything on the pitch.