Steve Barker looking to refresh Stellenbosch for MTN8 Cup final after wretched league luck

Stellenbosch FC coach Steve Barker has bemoaned the “fine margins” that have gone against his team which has impacted the Winelands club’s poor start to the Betway Premiership 2025/26 season.

Last season’s third-place side have just won victory and draw from five matches, which has left Barker’s team in 14th position on the table. 

The rub of the green has certainly been going against Stellies, particularly in their three 1-0 defeats to Kaizer Chiefs, Orlando Pirates and Mamelodi Sundowns. 

The reversal against Sundowns on Saturday at the Athlone Stadium had Barker shugging his shoulders again after the league champions were awarded a controversial penalty on the stroke of halftime when Stellies’ Belgian defender Henri Stanic brought down Peter Shalulile what appeared to be outside the box, but referee Michael Mosemeng pointed to the spot instead.

“It's always about fine margins,” Barker told the media. “The penalty against us, obviously a close call, whether it's in the box or out the box, it seemed like that. 

“Perhaps it might have just been outside the box, so those are the fine margins that have just unfortunately gone against us in this first sort of five matches in the league. 

“Obviously the Chiefs penalty and subsequent goal, a red card subsequent goal and then conceding a really good goal against Pirates away from home.

“So we've had a bit of a difficult start, but within all those games we've also shown that we are also capable of.” 

Barker, though, feels the Fifa international break has come at just the right time, especially as he will have entire squad at his disposal after Devin Titus, Thabo Maloisane and Ashley Cupido were cut from the provisional squad for Bafana Bafana’s upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Lesotho and Nigeria.

He can now prepare his squad adequately for the much-anticipated MTN8 final against Orlando Pirates on Saturday, 13 September at the Mbombela Stadium in Polokwane.

“Obviously, a lot of work still to be done in the league. But we do have something to look forward to,” Barker said.

“I wouldn't say I'm pleased (about the trio’s non-Bafana selection) because I always want the players to be selected for national teams, so I was a little bit disappointed on their behalf. 

“But in saying that, obviously Pirates I think have seven players selected for the Bafana squad, so we can really knuckle down.

“I think this was our seventh game in 20 days. It was eight games in August, so I think a couple of days of regeneration, give the players off till Wednesday will allow us to just refresh and really concentrate on working with the team and preparing really well for the final.”