Stellenbosch FC coach Steve Barker has shared his thoughts and assessment of the challenging opponents awaiting the club in Group C following the CAF Confederation Cup group stage draw.
The draws for both the CAF Champions League and Confederation Cup were conducted in Randburg, Johannesburg, on Monday.
Stellenbosch, who were seeded in pot two, reached the semi-finals of last season’s campaign but were eliminated by Simba SC, coached by Fadlu Davids at the time.
In last season’s campaign, Stellenbosch overcame Angolan side CD Lunda Sul and 2009 champions Stade Malien from Mali to advance to the knockout stage as group runners-up behind eventual champions RS Berkane of Morocco.
STELLENBOSCH FC TO FACE OFF AGAINST OPPOSITION FROM ALGERIA, CONGO AND TANZANIA
Stellies have been drawn in Group C alongside CR Belouizdad [Algeria], AS Otoho [Congo], and Singida Black Stars [Tanzania].
This comes after the Cape Winelands-based side booked their group stage spot following a 4-1 aggregate win over 15 de Agosto of Equatorial Guinea. They will now travel to Congo, Tanzania and Algeria.
NO EASY DRAW AS STEVE BARKER ANTICIPATES TOUGH ENCOUNTERS
Barker was pragmatic about the Confed Cup group stage draw, acknowledging the high quality of the opposition. He emphasised that at this level of continental competition, expecting an easy run is simply unrealistic. Barker stated: “Once you get to the Group Stage, there are no easy teams.”
He added: “All of the teams have done well and deserve to have reached this stage of the competition. It’s an interesting draw for us to be playing against different types of opposition. It will be a test for us, especially in terms of our away fixtures to Congo, Tanzania, and Algeria.
“It was never going to be an easy draw, being seeded in Pot 2, we were always going to get a team from Pot 1, which in this case is CR Belouizdad, but we are looking forward to the challenge.
“It’s always good to be testing ourselves on the continent and playing against different opposition from different countries.”
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