Stellenbosch head coach Steve Barker commended his players following their 1-0 triumph over Orlando Pirates in the Betway Premiership on Sunday, a match that also celebrated his 100th coaching victory at Orlando Stadium.

Devin Titus broke through and found the net against Pirates goalkeeper Sipho Chaine in the 33rd minute, enabling Barker’s team to bounce back from their previous defeat in the MTN8 final against the same opponents in October.

This marked Stellenbosch’s third consecutive league victory against Pirates, adding to their two wins from the previous season.

“Where do I begin? Pirates started off strong. In the initial five to ten minutes, we had a tactical plan for a few scenarios, but Releboholile Mofokeng and Mohau Nkota effectively took advantage of the gaps between Mofokeng, Nkota, and Patrick Maswanganyi, putting us under pressure,” Barker shared after the game.

“However, we adapted well. Genino Palace dropped deeper to help limit Mofokeng’s influence, and our fullbacks, alongside wide midfielders, needed to tighten their game before pushing into our defensive third. As a result, we improved our structure, and the game became more stable for the remainder of the half.

“Naturally, we excel during transitions, and it was clear again when the ball was passed to Ashley (Cupido), who set up Devin for a superb finish.

“We achieved our goal, concentrating on maintaining our structure and holding onto the 1-0 lead until halftime.

“Pirates had considerable possession and created several half-chances, and towards the end, they had a shot that went straight to Sage Stephens. However, aside from that, we restricted them to limited opportunities and performed well defensively.

“I must emphasize that the Stellenbosch players continue to impress me with their courage, commitment, work ethic, teamwork, and unity.”

Stellenbosch’s victory came on the heels of a challenging 2-0 loss to Stade Malien in the CAF Confederation Cup. “We endured a tough week, traveling on Sunday and only arriving in Cape Town on Friday. We then had to travel again to face a team that had won seven consecutive league matches and has claimed a trophy (MTN8) this season,” he remarked.

Barker acknowledged assistant coach Wesley Sergel for the team’s tactical organization.

“They were brimming with confidence, so for us to achieve results like this, all credit goes to the players for their hard work and to assistant coach Wesley Sergel, who is a brilliant tactician. The way we organized the team was exceptional,” he noted.

“Kudos to the players; this is a vital win for us, and consecutive victories at Orlando Stadium are incredibly significant. I believe it signifies my 100th win as Stellenbosch coach, and achieving it under these conditions is genuinely special.”