Barker: We can compare league and MTN 8
By Benjamin Nyirenda
PSL Offices, Parktown, South Africa
Stellenbosch FC will be hoping to defend their 2-0 MTN 8 Semifinals first leg lead against Sekhukhune United on Saturday at the Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane.
Despite winning 2-0 in the MTN 8 Stellenbosch are yet to win a game in the league after losing twice and drawing once and coach Steve Barker believes that there is no need to compare the two competitions.
Talking to the media during a press conference at the PSL Offices in Parktown ahead of the game Barker said they are working on the game on Saturday without looking at what they have done in the league.
“Most certainly, we have learnt a lot there.It wasn’t long ago, maybe two, two-and-a-half or three seasons ago. I always looked at Mamelodi Sundowns as the team in South African football that was above everyone else.
One of the things I realised about them is that the experience they gained on the continent in the way they managed games, the way they approach certain matches, whether it a home or away.
The experience that they gained over the years playing in the Confeds put them in good stead at the Club World Cup. So, I have always said that we also have to learn quickly. It must not take us two or three seasons to learn.
We had good experiences last year and it learnt us that you have to be resilient. What we have learnt is to overcome adversity and bounce back from setbacks..I believe that we are a team that does that well, important for us obviously the league campaign is separate but we have learnt,” Barker told the media.
Meanwhile Barker further stated that they have to learn from the games they have so far lost in the league.
“In losing if you don’t learn, don’t become better, and don’t grow then there won’t be progression. So, we see Saturday as an opportunity to focus solely on the MTN, to ensure that we get into the final and once we are in the final to take that game as a separate entity.
So, lets focus on Saturday and then after that have two important league games before we have the FIFA break and before hopefully the final.
The matches to be played from now until the end of May in all the different competitions, and once again the Confed. It is important that we manage the squad in a way that we keep players fresh, available, we keep them injury free.
For us as a club with a smaller squad than most other clubs the key part is not over playing players and they break down and then we lose them for longer periods.
It is about game management of players and managing their minutes. On Wednesday it was intentional with one or two of our decisions. It was good to get Bradley Mojela a start and good for him to get 45 plus 10 minutes.
He hasn’t started in over a year so that was good. It is about managing certain situations and always trying to put a team that will win a match in front of you.
It was our intention last night but unfortunately it didn’t happen but we are looking at some players who didn’t start to be nice and fresh,” the coach concluded.
The semifinals will be played at the Peter Mokaba Stadium from 19h30 on Saturday evening.
