Stellenbosch FC head coach Steve Barker says he aims to end the club’s bad Cup run curse when they face Swallows in the Nedbank Cup last 32.
Stellies will welcome the Dube Birds at Athlone Stadium on Saturday, 11 February, with the kick-off set for 15:00.
The Cape club are in their fourth year in the PSL, but have failed to progress further in Cup competitions since their promotion.
Now, Barker insists that this is the right time to turn the tables around and reach the semifinals or go all the way to the finals.
STEVE BARKER AIMING TO PROGRESS TO THE NEXT ROUND
“It has been disappointing for us as a club [not to have progressed further in the cups before],” Barker told the media.
“We’re at the stage as a club, in our fourth year in the PSL since our promotion, where we believe at some stage we have to have a good Cup run and be reaching the semis and final stages.
“So, hopefully that will be this season. The Nedbank Cup is the type of competition that, if you can get past the first hurdle and get into the last 16 or last eight, the mood of the players, as young as they are, will be galvanised by the feeling that they have a chance to get the final.”
STEVE BARKER HOPES TO CONTINUE WITH THE WINNING MOMENTUM
Barker noted that the DStv Premiership back-to-back wins will give his side a morale booster when they battle it out with Maswaiswai at their own turf.
The man in charge further stated that the only thing they need to do is to “keep the momentum” going.
“Coming off from back-to-back wins in the PSL is huge, and it’s not easy to achieve. We needed it more than ever,” he added.
“It was good to get those victories and it’s about now keeping that momentum.
“Confidence has grown in the team from those positive results, from the last two performances and the wins, so it’s about momentum.”
The 53-year-old mentor continued: “Saturday also affords a club like ourselves where a lot of players have been playing a lot of minutes regularly, to get the balance right by putting out a team that can win the match while using it wisely for the one or two bodies who may need a rest.
“We haven’t finalised how we will go, but we have a good idea, and it’s positive to have won the last two matches.”
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