Stellenbosch FC head coach Steve Barker has described Orlando Pirates-bound Ruan Rust as ‘world class’.
Rust, who has served as Stellenbosch’s Head of Performance for the last five years, is the second staff member from the Western Cape to join Pirates in recent months, following the Buccaneers’ recruitment of Devon O’Brien.
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Speaking after Stellenbosch’s 1-1 draw with TS Galaxy on Wednesday, Barker said Rust’s departure is a big loss, but wished the 33-year-old all the best, and said it was an opportunity he couldn’t turn down.
“Yeah, look Ruan our head of performance,” Barker said when asked about Rust’s departure by iDiski Times.
“And I was telling the players when we said a bit of a farewell yesterday, that all the players want to play in in Europe or play in the English Premier League, maybe staff want to work in English Premier League and that.
“But I think in the whole club, he of all, he is world class, and he has the ability to work at the highest of the highest levels.
“It’s obviously a great opportunity for him, yes, a loss, but at the same time, we’ve built a really firm friendship. Then when you see people advancing and you know, he’s got a young family, a young kid that was born a couple months back, and this type of opportunity is an opportunity that he couldn’t turn down.
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“So again, you know, we wish him well. We do have Rodet Yila from Spurs that has come in, also very, very competent and of high quality. So it does afford him the opportunity to do more and step up.
“But ja, we wish Ruan well, he’s served the club exceptionally well.”
