Steve Barker was delighted after his team’s 1-0 win over Cape Town City, which at least for the time being moves them up to third on the DStv Premiership log.
Stellenbosch moved ahead of Kaizer Chiefs and Royal AM into the third spot, but whether they remain will depend on other results. Royal AM’s fixture against champions Mamelodi Sundowns was postponed, and they also still have to play Orlando Pirates, who could also still knock Stellies out of that position.
Granwald Scott’s late winner was enough to secure the three points, with Scott scoring in his last game for the club, before leaving at the end of the season.
But Barker says it’s a great position to be in, and he would love for the team to end in the top four.
“Ja, ja, It puts us on a massive position,” Barker said after the game.
“So, Ja, let’s see, obviously other teams have still going to play. But if we could finish in the top four, I think it would really be an amazing season for us.
It was back-to-back victories in the derby for Barker’s team over Eric Tinkler’s side, who do however remain ahead of them in second place.
“Ja, obviously, getting six points off Cape Town City, a really good team,” he continued.
“But ja, I thought, I thought we looked like the ones who wanted to just play a bit more and try to make things happen a bit more, as opposed to them.
“I felt we were a little bit braver and more courageous. They sort of reverted to a little bit more direct sort of play, which surprised me a bit. So I think just by virtue of that, then I thought the game was just going to peter out a little bit.
“It looked like the last game of the season type, not much was really happening. And that goal that we got, I think we deserve the luck. We’ve had some goals going in the 93/94th minute in the past. So for us to get one over the line, a set-piece. I think this is really deserved.
It was a really good turnout at the DC Stadium, and Barker said he hopes it will be a regular thing in Stellenbosch going forward.
“It was nice, a nice crowd out,” Barker added.
“Hopefully, we can continue to fill the stadium, and become a Maritzburg type, where we get 4, 5, 6000 people on a regular basis. It mustn’t just be Chiefs or a derby, we hope the fans will come and support us wherever we playing. So ja, nice to reward them also.”
Barker said he knows it’s not in their hands, but he would love to see both Cape teams involved in continental football.
“We’re the kings of Western Cape for now, but City also well done to them, they lying second on the log, they’ve also had an amazing season,” he concluded.
“So ja, just maybe if the results might go our way, imagine that the two Cape teams representing South Africa in Africa!”
