While Stellenbosch head coach Steve Barker knows Sekhukhune United will be tough opposition, he is looking to build on the club’s good start to the DStv Premiership season when the two clubs meet this weekend.
After a draw and a win in their first two games, Stellenbosch find themselves in second position on the log.
Barker says they want to build on their positive start to the season, and he was happy to be able to use the break to re-integrate Marc Van Heerden and Solly Khunyedi back into the squad, after they returned from injuries.
However he says Robyn Johannes, Granwald Scott and Alan Robertson are still out, and will certainly miss this weekend’s game.
“Ja, it is always good to get off to a positive start,” Barker told Stellenbosch’s media department.
“So, we’re happy with the start that we’ve had. The break, you know, it’s always nice to continue after a win to play again however we used to the league having these type of breaks.
“So we often use it as an opportunity to work on areas that we can still be better at, and continue to improve in, it was a good opportunity to get some players back that are coming back from injury such as Solly Khunyedi and Marc Van Heerden. So it allowed us the opportunity to reintegrate them and get some friendly matches on the belt. So that is a positive.
“Unfortunately, Robin Johannes, Granwald Scott and Alan Robertson are still carrying knocks and injuries and won’t be available for the Sekhukhune game.
“Ja, they are a bit of an unknown quantity, however, we’ve been able to get footage of their previous matches, and we’ve analysed them, they seem to be really well organized, the defensive team, good structure, so a difficult team to break down, they’ve come off a positive result against Maritzburg.
“So I’m sure they’re also confident of playing at home and getting a result against us. So we have to prepare well, it’s also important that, yes, we do worry about what opposition are capable of doing, however it’s important that we also look to how we want to play, and to continue working on the way that we feel will be best for us to be as competitive as we can be this season.
“So yes, we obviously are looking to continue with the good form that we have shown, another big game for us, another big opportunity for us to continue progressing as a team. So yes, we looking forward to the encounter. The players had a good break and are really motivated and ready to be back on the field, and to put in a big performance on the weekend.”
