Stellenbosch FC goalkeeper Sage Stephens says though the pain of losing the MTN8 final against Orlando Pirates is still fresh, he and his teammates know they have to let it go and focus on the rest of the season.
Stellies who were playing in their maiden Wafa Wafa final and their second in two seasons lost 3-1 to the Buccaneers with the match overshadowed by one of referee Abongile Tom’s decisions, which led to the Pirates’ second goal.
It was an incident that grabbed headlines over the weekend and into the launch and draw of this year’s 2024 Carling Knockout Cup. Stephens who was in goals for Stellies during the final says if his side holds on to the pain it may affect the rest of their season.
“That’s still very fresh, actually I don’t want to think too much about it,” Stephens said.
“It’s come and it’s gone. Our full focus now is on the Carling Knockout, the rest of the season and maybe the Nedbank after that but you know we have to let this go. We have to leave it behind because we can’t let that hinder our performances in the season”.
“So the longer we hold on to this pain, the worse it’s going to become. So for me personally I have let it go. It’s in the past and now I’m just looking forward to my next game”.”
Meanwhile, Stellies who are the defending champions of the Knockout Cup have been drawn against AmaZulu in the first round. The tournament in its second season allows fans able to pick their Man of Match among some of its exciting initiatives.
The Maroons have had a good start to the 2024 campaign making the MTN8 final, and qualifying for the group stage of the CAF Confederation Cup, while sitting in eighth place on the league log with four points from three matches.
Stephens added that his side is definitely the team to beat in the encounter and they will have to be at their best to defend their trophy.
“Looking forward to playing AmaZulu, a very good side they just haven’t had a good start to the season,” added the 33-year-old.
“But it’s still going to be a challenge for us defending champions, obviously we’ve got a target on our backs. And we have to do as well as possible to go as far as we can in this tournament and to do the best of our ability to defend the trophy.”