Barker reveals pros & cons of playing while other clubs are awaiting league start

Stellenbosch FC head coach Steve Barker has revealed the benefits and the downsides of being in action while other PSL clubs are awaiting the league start.

Stellenbosch have already played two matches in the 2024/25 campaign, beating TS Galaxy 3-1 in the MTN8 quarterfinal and thumping Nsingizini Hotspurs 3-0 in the CAF Confederation Cup preliminary round first leg.

Stellies will, again, face the Eswatini side in the second leg on Saturday, 24 August at Moses Mabhida Stadium.

Thereafter, they will travel to Pretoria to lock horns with Mamelodi Sundowns in the MTN8 semifinal first leg on Wednesday, 28 August at Lucas Moripe Stadium.

They will then welcome the Brazilians on 1 September in the second leg at the Moses Mabhida Stadium.

Barker acknowledges that the drawback of playing while other teams observe allows them to strategise against Stellies, particularly after analysing the utilisation of their new signings and their playing style this season.

Meanwhile, he strongly believes the clubs that have already started playing like Mamelodi Sundowns, Sekhukhune United, and Orlando Pirates are “more advantageous” in terms of match fitness.

STEVE BARKER ON WHY THEY’RE ADVANTAGEOUS THAN CLUBS WHO ARE WAITING FOR THE LEAGUE TO START

“It’s got positives and negatives, the positives are we are match fit and by the time we get to Betway Premiership we would have played five matches,” said Barker.

“That put us…Our readiness is on the higher level.

“But downside of it is the opposition have the ability to see what we are doing and how we are using our new signings. Whereas we may not have that same information.

“But I believe going into it [start of the league] having played matches, being a bit more ready for matches is probably more advantageous than not knowing what the opposition are going to do.”

The Cape Winelands side will begin its Betway Premiership campaign on 15 September against Lamontville Golden Arrows.