Tinkler Praises Barker’s Impact At Stellenbosch FC
Sekhukhune United coach Eric Tinkler has praised Steve Barker’s contribution to the success of Stellenbosch in the eight years of being in charge of the club.
Barker took over Stellenbosch in 2017, while the club was still in the National First Division, and he managed to promote it to the elite league. Under Barker’s guidance, Stellies reached the 2022/23 Nedbank Cup semi-final for the first time.
Additionally, they were crowned the inaugural champions for the 2023/24 Carling Knockout Champions and qualified for the CAF Confederation Cup.
Barker further led Stellies to reach the semi-final of the 2024/25 CAF Confederation Cup and final of the MTN8.
The Cape Winelands-based outfit has gone on to become one of the most competitive clubs in the Betway Premiership, having to constantly finish in the top eight for the past couple of years.
Tinkler didn’t want to see Barker’s work go unappreciated, but gave credit to the impressive work he had done with the club.
“I think Steve, it has been eight years now he’s been at Stellies. You can see the growth that has happened at that club,” said Tinkler.
“The understanding, the culture, the discipline, let us not forget he is a military man. I think the success of the club has come from the club being patient with him.
“I remember his first couple of seasons were difficult seasons, and possibly at any other club in South Africa, there was the likelihood they would have moved him up. But they stuck with him, and I think they are reaping the rewards of what Stellies has achieved over the past two, three seasons is quite exceptional, and a lot of the credit needs to go to him and his technical team.”
Meanwhile, Tinkler’s side will play Stellies in the second leg of the MTN8 semifinal at Peter Mokaba Stadium on Saturday (18:00).
The 55-year-old revealed what he analysed from Stellenbosch, heading to the second leg, following their 2-0 loss in the first leg.
“I think it’s more than that first game. I think when I was in Cape Town City, I’ve never beaten Stellies, so I’ve been learning a lot over the last four, five years.”
“Stellies, as I’ve said before, are a team that is built for counterattacks; they are a team that waits for the mistakes that the opposition makes, and they are extremely dangerous on the counterattack. Trying to stop that, preventing that is not an easy task.”
“I think what tends to happen a lot of times, you try and be brave on the ball, in the attack and creating the opportunities, you make the mistakes, and what we need to try and do is to make sure that we don’t make those mistakes,” Tinkler said.
