Stellenbosch FC coach Steve Barker is pleased with the scoring form of new signing Lehlohonolo Mojela and explains why he had to protect him ahead of the MTN8 final.
Mojela scored a stunning goal during the 1-1 draw against Polokwane City FC in a Betway Premiership clash at the Peter Mokaba Stadium on Sunday evening. He has scored five goals in all competitions since joining from TS Galaxy.
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“Bradley has been really good for us. He has been getting on the score sheet and scoring some good goals,” Barker said.
“Tonight was a really quality goal. So yeah, it’s nice that he is scoring, and he is playing with a lot of confidence. He is a handful for any team, a lot of energy and a lot of pressing and adding goals to that means he is a formidable player for us.”
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“So yeah, happy for him; he had been booked earlier in the game, so there was a little bit of risk to leave him on and get a second yellow. But a well-taken goal, hopefully, his goal-scoring can continue.”
Stellenbosch will play Orlando Pirates at the Moses Mabhida Stadium on Saturday. This is Stellenbosch’s second final in eight months. They defeated TS Galaxy in the Carling Knockout final in December last year.
Barker says despite the big encounter looming, his players were not distracted ahead of the big final.
“I think our mentality is just to see the game before us and play. So I felt we did [play]. Obviously, it was a different occasion going to the biggest stadium with a full crowd in the final. I am sure our level of motivation will be too high to perform better than what we did this evening.
“So I can’t fault their commitment; I don’t think that players had one eye on the next week.”
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