Barker reaping the rewards of Diski Challenge

Stellenbosch FC Diski Challenge graduates have continued to thrive in DStv Premiership.

A quintet of Antonio van Wyk, Mervin Boji, Devin Titus, Oshwin Andries and Lance Weaver played a key role when Stellenbosch won the Diski Challenge and the Premier League Next Generation Cup.

They were all promoted to the first team and so far they have made a valuable contribution to the club with some of them displaying man-of-the-match performances while some have even scored goals in the first team.

The club coach Steve Barker has been impressed by them so far and he recommends taht with more game time which will give them experience there’s still a lot that they would offer the club.

At the end of last season, Stellies lost some of their key player that includes Ashley du Preez and Zitha Kwinika, who both joined Kaizer Chiefs.

But the youngsters have been able to close their gaps without the team spending big cheques to sign replacements.

“I think they are on the right track in terms of their development pathway,” Barker said after their 2-1 win over Swallows over the weekend.

“They have to gain exposure more and, and the experience they get with these minutes they can only get better.

Baxter added: “I am very pleased for them. I think they all deserve it. They have shown the quality that they had in the DDC last season, and they are now showing that in the big league.”

Stellies Diski Challenge did not start their title defence on a positive note as they were defeated by Cape Town City FC 3-2 on Saturday in a derby festival at King Zwelithini Stadium.

Diski coach Evangelos Vellios had a couple of new players that he believes will be able to close the gap that was left by the ones that were promoted into the first team.