Stellenbosch FC coach Steve Barker says the game against Sundowns was a good gauge to see where they are as a football club.
Steve Barker, head coach of Stellenbosch FC is interviewed after the 2024 Nedbank Cup semifinal against Mamelodi Sundowns at Danie Craven Stadium in Stellenbosch on Sunday. over the weekend, Stellenbosch FC coach Steve Barker wished the Brazilians well in the final.The Brazilians edged Stellies 2-1 in a semifinal match played at the Danie Craven Stadium on Sunday to advance to the final of the competition where they’ll meet against Orlando Pirates at the Mbombela Stadium on 1 June.
“They really started well in the first 10 or 15 minutes and played with a lot of energy and movement. We were stuck between how much to press them and how to take control away but they were able to find spaces out wide with Mudau and Allende on the left. “But, when you play a team that’s playing continental football, you learn certain lessons. We had Fawaaz injured and they continued to play, worked the ball to our right-hand side where Fawaaz was no longer in position, and took their goal and the lead.“It was a harsh lesson to learn, but they probably deserved to go into the break with the lead.
“I’m really proud of our time today and this is the benchmark. We want to be playing on the continent ourselves, but we still have work to do in the league to get there, but it was a good gauge to see where we are as a football club against a team like Sundowns with the crowd and atmosphere we had.
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