Stellenbosch FC makes history in CAF Interclub competition

The Cape Winelands team defeated a visiting Stade Malien of Mali 2-0 at the Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Tshwane on Sunday.

Following a poor start with back-to-back defeats, Barker was impressed at how his charges turned things around.

"Excited about what lies ahead going into the knockout stages. It was always our aim to just take each stage at a time to get through the preliminary round to the group stage and then hopefully we could just continue and get into the knockout stage,” Barker said.

“We didn't start the best with the two losses but the team has shown great character and belief and trust in each other and in the process and to get three weeks on the bounce is credit to the efforts that the players have been putting in and I'm glad that they rewarded themselves with a knockout stage game.

“So, for me a really, really great performance, if there's one area that I believe we need to just keep on is just bury the game when we need to, get that third goal and make it a lot more comfortable but yeah, I'm not complaining, 2-0 win into the knockout stage, third game in the week.

“Then in the Western Cape to come away with two wins to go into the knockout stage, I think we can look back at the week. Now we can go to Morocco next week with a little bit less stress."

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First half goals by Fawaz Basadien and Jayden Adams were enough to see the Western Cape outfit progress on the back of three consecutive victories in the continental interclub tournament. 

Currently interchanging between the Betway Premiership and CAF competition, the Nedbank Cup has now been added to their busy schedule, but Barker says they are not complaining.

"It's a very proud moment and it was maybe four/five years ago, a little bit tongue and cheek I said come on guys we've gotta get this club playing in the continent, one day they'll be headline saying 'From crushing grapes, to crushing Africa',” Barker added.

“I keep referring to it and I keep reminding the players. For the club to be at this stage and to be able to get into a knockout stage like we have I think is just credit to just everything that is done at the football club right from the bottom level through our development processes, our youth program, our really good diski program.

“You know a lot of effort put in to make sure that the first team is competitive and all at the same time running a club that can be sustainable. Our objective is to have sustained success, you know the way that we are doing things I believe that we are on the right track.”

“I think this is just a little bit of a cherry on the cake just to get to the knockout stages, it doesn't make our task easier for the rest of the season obviously with the amount of league matches still to play, Nedbank Cup to content with but it is what we wanted, it is what we want so we look at it in a positive way."