Defining week ahead for Stellenbosch’ hopes

Stellenbosch coach Steve Barker described this week as one of the most defining in the club’s brief history as they look to consolidate second place in the DStv Premiership.

They have tough away gamed at Sekhukhune United on Wednesday and TS Galaxy on Sunday, hoping to leap up to second place in the DStv Premiership where they enjoy a two point lead over third placed Orlando Pirates.

“Those two games away I believe will be a defining moment in sort of our ambitions to finish as high as we can,” said Barker.

“If we can come away from those two matches with decent results, then we're going into the last six games in a really healthy position with a lot of home games then left and we would then feel that we have a big chance.”

But he made it clear that Stellenbosch would be up against it in Polokwane and then the Mbombela Stadium at the weekend. The Winelands will be staying in Limpopo Province between the two matches.

“Two really tough away games against two teams in good form, so one game at a time. We’ve just got to keep things together. There's no looking back now. We on an island, we must stay on the island and we need to push for the next eight league matches. And hopefully two more cup games too,” said Barker, who side reached the Nedbank Cup semifinals at the weekend.

“But I don't want to be entertaining talk that we were going to be going to qualify for the Champions League because there's a lot of football to be played and some big games that we have to overcome,” he added.

Stellenbosch are in the fifth season in the top flight with a previous top finish of fourth two campaigns ago. Last seasons they ended sixth and in December won their first silverware by taking the Carling Knockout.

“We've got a lot of ambition and a lot to play for in the league,” the Stellenbosch coach said.