Stellenbosch FC head coach Steve Barker has confirmed that they already looking to bolster their ranks ahead of next season after injuries hampered their ambitions this campaign.
With the season edging closer to the end, teams aim to finish on a high and are also preparing for next season in terms of renewing contracts and recruiting.
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Stellies is no different, and they are already in talks with some players trying to give them new contracts and also looking to bolster their team for the 2025/26 season.
Barker mentioned that they struggled in the frontline after Bradley Mojela and Ashley Cupido both suffered long-term injuries.
“We are busy. We’re having a meeting tomorrow morning at eight o’clock again, just obviously to look at certain options and think ahead of what we need and possible situations that we may have to deal with,” Barker told the media.
“Yeah, we have started the process, but we are happy with what we have. I mean, just it’s a bit unlucky to have both Bradley [Mojela] and Ashley [Cupido] out at the same time.
“A couple of players had to fill in. We had to play two false 10s, false nines earlier, Sanele [Barns] and Andre [de Jong] to start. Then we had Kaka down the middle. And then we brought on Legger Philander from our DDC team, getting opportunities.
“So been a bit tough with the last couple of games on having our strikers available. So ja, we definitely are looking, and hopefully we can have a good window.”
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Barker also insisted that they need to make decision on some of their players, whether to extend their contract or perhaps look into selling them.
“It’s more like there are certain extensions that need to either be done or not – and couple of decisions that we need to make, one or two players, but we’re happy with the squad that we have. It’s been a good squad,” he continued.
“We’ve shown that we have depth in certain positions, obviously, up front. It showed a bit of lack of that with the two injuries. So, yeah, I just think it’s for us to be just smarter how we structure the squad and who we bring in.”
The longest serving coach in PSL also mentioned that qualifying for the continental football for next season would attract more players because every player wants to be in that space.
