Stellenbosch to take CAF lessons from Mamelodi Sundowns

The Winelands outfit will secure a Champions League spot, alongside Sundowns, should they hold on to second spot in the DStv Premiership with four games to go. 

Barker, speaking after Downs eliminated Stellies in the Nedbank Cup semifinals on Sunday with a 2-1 victory, insisted The Brazilians are the barometer. 

"Very proud of the team today, I think it's a benchmark [performance] – we want to be playing on the continent ourselves, and there's still work to be done in the league to get that," said Barker.

"So it was a good gauge to see where we are as a football club, against a team like Sundowns, with the type of crowd and atmosphere that was here, against a really quality opponent.

"I believe, and I can confidently say, I think we're on the right track – if we can take Sundowns on the way we did today and push them all the way.

"I do believe it was a good sign for us, but ja, it wasn't meant to be. We gave a valiant effort, but it was just not enough in the end."

The two sides meet again in the league on 18 May, and Barker, who saw his team’s 25-match unbeaten run brought to a halt on Saturday, is determined to end Downs’ unbeaten run, currently at 48 league matches, should it still be intact by then.

"We've got to try and break their run – [Danie Craven] will be a tough place for them to come back to, but in saying that, one can see they just sort of know how to manage situations and games," he added.

"And then , obviously, with the individual quality they have, it will be difficult to see them not remaining unbeaten [throughout the season], I think they're capable of doing it."

READ: Mokwena credits tactics for snapping Stellenbosch’s 25-game unbeaten run