Stellenbosch FC coach Steve Barker says the upcoming derbies against rivals Cape Town City and Cape Town Spurs are massive in terms of keeping Stellies in the position they want to finish on at the end of the season.
The first of the two Cape derbies will be a fight for the second spot when they face City on Tuesday night at the DHL Cape Town Stadium before hosting Spurs just four days later at the Danie Craven Stadium.
“Derbies are always very exciting to be involved in, so to have back-to-back derbies is a very exciting opportunity for us as a team,” Barker told the club’s official media.
“We have a lot to play for heading into the first match against Cape Town City.
“A victory would move us up to second position on the log so it’s a massively important game.
“It is always a tough game against City. It’s a proper derby where both teams come out to get bragging rights and they are a good quality team, hence their position on the log.
“It will be a tough game but it’s one we have traditionally done well in, although we can’t take anything for granted because every game is a new one. They will be up to get one over us so we have to be ready for them.”
Barker added that they have a squad to coupe without the suspended Bafana Bafana international Jayden Adams and defender Ismaël Touré.
“Ultimately, that’s what you have a squad for and it does provide other players the chance to get an opportunity,” Barker added.
“A player like Athenkosi Mcaba is young but already has good experience and we all know the ability he has, so he’ll get his opportunity, while in midfield, we have decent depth in the numbers and the quality we have.
“It is always a big loss when you lose players of their calibre, but it does provide opportunities for others.”
“The full focus is currently on City and then once we get past that hurdle, we’ve got a couple of days to prepare for the Spurs match,” he concluded.
“Firstly, from a log table point of view, they are massive games for us to get points from and to keep us in the position we want to be in come the end of the season. From that point of view, it is massive, and we also want to give our fans something to be pleased about by giving them bragging rights.”
Stellies’ match against Cape Town City will kick-off at 19h30 while the match against Cape Town Spurs kick-off at 17h30
Written by: Diski Voice
