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Barker stays positive ahead of Stellies facing Usuthu

football07 May 2024 10:30| © Backpage TXT
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Steve Barker © Backpagepix

Following their exit from the Nedbank Cup when they suffered a 2-1 loss to Mamelodi Sundowns, Stellenbosch coach Steve Barker sees the silver lining in the situation as they now focus on finishing strong in the DStv Premiership.

Stellies will face AmaZulu on Wednesday evening, at the Danie Craven Stadium in their next league fixture. Kick-off is at 7:30 pm CAT (SA, GMT+2).

CURRENT FORM

The Maroons are unbeaten in their last five league games. Currently on a three match winning streak, the team beat TS Galaxy 2-1, Polokwane City 5-0 and Golden Arrows 3-0.

Steve Barker’s men are currently occupying second position on the log, three points ahead of third placed Orlando Pirates. Stellenbosch could be on course to qualify for a CAF Champions League spot next season.

AmaZulu have only won two matches in 2024 and are placed 12th on the league table with 31 points. They lost to Pirates in both the Nedbank Cup and league, beat Chippa United 2-1 following that and recently lost to fellow KZN outfit Richards Bay.

WHAT WAS SAID

Stellies coach Steve Barker has noted that there is still a lot to play for in the league, and the plan is to keep pushing despite their 25-match unbeaten run coming to an end.

Barker maintains that the Champions League is their top priority ahead of the match against AmaZulu and that they will work hard to finish as Sundowns' runners-up.

"I think the Champions League is the first prize and finishing second and playing in that competition is our aim," he said at a press conference.

"But as you can see, many teams have hit good form at the right time. Pirates are playing well. I believe we are playing well, so it will go down to the wire.”

Usuthu boss Pablo Franco Martin has called for his team to show more consistency before they take on Stellenbosch as they’ve struggled to get a decent run of form going.

“The lack of consistency that we are having for the whole season and not only a few games, that is impossible to overlook for [finishing in] higher positions,” says Franco Martin.

“Also, individually when you are making so many mistakes consistently, that means our level is what it is. We are trying to improve that.”

“I think we have improved from the beginning of the season but we are still far from the level of the teams that need to fight for these higher positions. We need to be more realistic, we need to be more humble.”

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Iqraam Rayners, Stellenbosch - Undoubtedly in amazing form, the striker will be a key player in getting the team ahead by scoring goals. With 14 goals to his name in the DStv Premiership, Rayners is surely to be kept at bay if Usuthu want to win this one.

Augustine Mulenga, AmaZulu - The forward scored in the team’s match against Richards Bay and this is his second stint with the KZN outfit. Should he start, he could have a chance to replicate his form from his first spell.

HEAD-TO-HEAD

ALL LEAGUE RESULTS

Season Result Scorers

2019/20 AmaZulu 2-0 Stellenbosch Ntuli 2 (1 pen)

2019/20 Stellenbosch 1-1 AmaZulu Skelem; Maduna

2020/21 AmaZulu 2-1 Stellenbosch Ntuli, Majoro; Van Heerden

2020/21 Stellenbosch 0-1 AmaZulu Qalinge

2021/22 Stellenbosch 2-2 AmaZulu Dimgba, Du Preez; Maduna, Buchanan

2021/22 AmaZulu 2-2 Stellenbosch Ceesay, Sikhakhane; Du Preez, Ortiz

2022/23 AmaZulu 1-0 Stellenbosch Bwalya

2022/23 Stellenbosch 2-0 AmaZulu Rayners, Titus

2023/24 AmaZulu 0-1 Stellenbosch Oura

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