With the memory of last season’s MTN8 final defeat to Orlando Pirates still fresh, Stellenbosch FC coach Steve Barker has offered his thoughts on once again facing the Buccaneers on the grand stage of the cup final.
The Cape Winelands side, who secured the spot in the MTN8 final for the second time on the trot, won the two-legged semi-final with a 3-1 aggregate score, beating Sekhukhune United.
Meanwhile, Orlando Pirates edged out Mamelodi Sundowns 4-1 on penalties after their semi-final ended in a 2-2 draw on aggregate. This will be a fourth consecutive MTN8 final for the Sea Robbers who have won it three times in a row.
Last season’s final saw the Soweto giants claim a 3-1 victory over the Western Cape outfit at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban.
Barker is thrilled that his side has, once again, put themselves on the strong position of winning a major trophy. But the coach insisted that this won’t be a “redemption” match following last season’s loss to Pirates. He believes this final will be a new challenge entirely, given the major shake-up in the opponents’ coaching and playing personnel.
BARKER ON FINAL AGAINST PIRATES – ‘IT’S NOT ABOUT REDEMPTION’
“I think as coaches and as football players, you want to be playing in as many finals as you can and you want to be winning as many trophies as you can,” said Barker.
“I think for a player to have a legacy and leave a legacy and one day to be able to show the grandchildren and children the medals and trophies, I think that’s the most important part why in football we put the effort each and every day and train hard and have dreams and have ambitions.
“We’ve got a massive ambition to lift trophies and [with] the MTN8, [we’re] now one game away from achieving that. So, it’s not about redemption [after losing MTN8 final to Pirates last season]. It’s not about anything, Pirates have changed players and they have got a new coach.
“It’s a new game, all I hope is that the game doesn’t end up not being decided by a controversial moment either way for either team and it’s just a fair contest. But yeah, they’re obviously a good team…”
The MTN8 final is scheduled for Saturday, September 13, but the PSL has not yet announced the kick-off time or venue.
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