Stellenbosch FC coach Steve Barker has revealed his Oshwin Andries-inspired half-time team talk in the Nedbank Cup quarter-final against Mamelodi Sundowns, writes Joshua Hendricks.
Iqraam Rayners scored a double as Stellies ended Sundowns’ hopes of defending the Nedbank Cup, which they won last season.
“Sitting here, I’m a proud man. I thought it was a top-class performance from everybody in terms of effort, commitment, defensive structure and organisation. A team like Sundowns will dominate possession,” Barker told the media in the post-match press conference at Athlone Stadium.
STEVE BARKER’S OSHWIN ANDRIES PEP TALK
“They will have their moments and chances, but I do feel, even though they dominated possession, if you look at the game, it’s not like [Lee] Langeveldt had to make many saves.
“If you have a player like Iqraam Rayners in your team, you always have an opportunity to score goals. So he’s been magnificent in this Nedbank Cup so far – and you know he’s scored two in every round. Well done to him.”
Barker was then questioned to detail what transpired in the dressing room to spark such a second-half display.
One of the reasons, he said, was to honour the late Oshwin Andries. The South Africa U20 captain died earlier this year in a tragic incident in his hometown Stellenbosch.
“I reminded them why we are here. The message before the game was that we need to fight for the badge, this football club, we need to fight for each other, our family, friends and supporters of this club,” Barker continued.
THE FOOTBALL GODS
“We need to play in a way that we honour Oshwin in this Nedbank Cup run. That was just a reminder that we are still in the game if we continue to play and work as hard as they did in the first half.
“I said if we can get something back, a goal, in the first 15 to 20 minutes of the second half, then we have an opportunity to go on to win the game. That was the message.”
Stellenbosch have drawn Sekhukhune United at home. In the other semi, the football gods dished up a Soweto Derby in the Nedbank Cup semi-finals.
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