Stellenbosch have rewarded head coach Steve Barker with a new three-year deal that will see him at the club until 2026.
Barker has been the coach at Stellies since 2017. The 54-year-old has turned the club into a formidable side over the years.
He took the club to their highest finish of fourth at the end of last season. Stellies gained promotion to the elite league in 2016.
“Stellenbosch Football Club is delighted to announce that Head Coach Steve Barker has signed a three-year contract extension keeping him committed to SFC until 2026,” the club said in a statement released on Thursday.
He has overseen the rise of players such as attacker Ashley Du Preez who have left for Kaizer Chiefs.
Stellenbosch are sixth on the log currently after nine matches. They defeated Maritzburg United 3-0 to sit six points behind leaders Mamelodi Sundowns.
“The League is very tight. Before the game started we were four points off second and four points off 16,” said Barker after the match.
“So ,it’s that stage of the season where any win takes you higher and a loss keeps you lowest. An important game to win at home.
“I think it sets us nicely for Sunday’s clash against Chiefs so we just have to keep working hard off the field to continue progressing so yeah I am very pleased,” he said.
Barker, who was born in Maseru Lesotho, started his coaching career at the University of Pretoria between 2008 and 2014.
He also had a stint at KwaZulu-Natal based side AmaZulu between 2014 and 2016.
He was in charge when the University of Pretoria gained promotion from the national first division to the DStv Premiership (then Absa Premiership) in 2012.
His playing career includes stints at clubs such as Wits University and SuperSport United where he spent just one season.
