Stellenbosch missed key players against Kaizer Chiefs - Steve Barker

Stellenbosch missed key players against Kaizer Chiefs - Steve Barker

Stellenbosch FC head coach Steve Barker says they missed key players during their 1-0 loss to Kaizer Chiefs in a Betway Premiership match last night.

Stellies were without the likes of Fawaaz Basadien and Sanele Barns at Athlone Stadium, as Chiefs newcomer Glody Lilepo got off the mark with the only goal of the match as early as the fourth minute.

This was the Cape Winelands outfit’s fourth league defeat of the season, and Barker says injuries and suspensions affected their competitive levels.

"It is obviously frustrating when you don't have Basadien, who was suspended for tonight's game, and Sanele Barns, who suffered from an illness and is only recovered now and started training," said Barker.

"This coming week, we're without Thato [Khiba], [Lehlohonolo] Mojela, and Godswill Kazie [Enyinnaya], who unfortunately had a boil on the worst place – his shin, which just made him unavailable to play.

"So when you've got your two starting full-backs and wide players not available, like [Khomotjo] Lekoloane also suffered illness with Barns and came back recently, so he was only really able to give us 20-25 minutes.

"So us being nowhere near our best, and only losing 1-0 – perhaps even deserving a little bit more [out of the game] – says quite a lot."

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