Stellenbosch FC head coach Steve Barker has given insight on former defender Deano Van Rooyen, who is cup-tied and cannot face his former club on Saturday during MTN8 final.
Van Rooyen spent most of his career at Stellenbosch, where he made name for himself before earning a big move to Orlando Pirates in the past transfer window.
The speedy right-back had an impressive start at Orlando Stadium, but he won’t be able to play in the MTN8 final as he is cup tied since he played the same tournament for Stellies when they faced TS Galaxy in the quarter-finals.
This website asked Barker if playing DVR from the bench in that quarter-final against Galaxy was calculated, but he explained that Van Rooyen himself requested not to start the game and then the club felt they needed him as the game was on – not purposefully cup-tying him ahead of his Pirates move.
“Unfortunately you speaking with an honest coach and honest club. At that stage there was a lot of noise around Deano, so he himself felt he was not on the right space to play and requested that he is not available for selection because at that moment just before that game there was a lot of things happening and he just felt that he wouldn’t be able to give 100% to the team, just considering what was going on around,” Barker told iDiski Times.
“I understood and basically thats why he didn’t start the game but it was important to have him on the bench because anything could have happened and we had to be covered in that position and hence he started on the bench and off the game it was required for him to come on.
“There was no thinking ahead or plan, he just felt he wasn’t ready to start the game. I appreciate he is honest, not so many players can be honest enough to tell you that and I can believe and trust him.
“He is a Pirates player now, whatever happens on Saturday I think he is winner, I don’t know does he get two medals? Or which one does he get but that was the main reason.”
