Having played against three of the four CAF finalists this season, Stellenbosch FC coach Steve Barker has said that Moroccan club RS Berkane were the best team they faced in all football this season.
Berkane showed that ability on Saturday in the first leg of the CAF Confederation Cup final against Simba SC with a convincing 2-0 home victory as they look to close in on a third CAF Confed Cup title ahead of next weekend’s second leg.
While Simba knocked out Stellies in the semis, it was Berkane who humbled Stellenbosch in the group stages, and Barker says that Berkane, the new Moroccan champions, were his pick of the teams. Sundowns and Stellies met in domestic competitions, and Barker says the CAFCL finalists set the standard for South African clubs, and it’s up to others to catch up.
“I think for me, it’s shown that our league is competitive, and it is strong,” Barker said about what he’d learnt from Stellenbosch’s first African sojourn.
“I mean, we felt it against Sundowns, just how clinical they can be, if you do make mistakes on the continent, you do get punished.
“And even with Sundowns at home, but I must say that RS Berkane, for me, have been the best team that we’ve played this season.
“So ja, they deserve to be in the final, and so do Sundowns. So ja, it bodes well for a team like Sundowns going into the Club World Cup, playing in a final of Champions League. So, we really wish them well, and congratulations on them for setting the benchmark again in the league.
“I keep saying it’s our responsibility to close the gap, not theirs, so they will always just aspire to be better. So, we need to find ways.”
Stellenbosch beat SuperSport United 2-1 on Saturday to move into third position on the Betway Premiership table, and if they hold onto the position after their final game next week against Cape Town City, will once again qualify for the CAFCC.
