Stellenbosch coach Steve Barker says being Carling Knockout defending champions is a massive added motivation for his side ahead of Sunday’s quarterfinal clash against Marumo Gallants in Bloemfontein.
Last season’s winners will be away at the Petrus Molemela Stadium just four days after edging Gallants 1-0 in a tightly contested Betway Premiership encounter at the Cape Town Stadium.
“It's nice to go into a game and be called a defending champion,” explained Barker, whose side were travelling to the Free State capital on the eve of the match.
“So, it's our trophy as we speak. We feel proud. It's displayed in our office, we walk past it every day, and you know what? We want another one!
“I think it's a big motivating factor to be defending champions. And we’ll fight tooth and nail as hard as we can to retain that cup. As players and staff, you want to create history and legacies and back-to-back wins in a cup are those type of things that you can create. So, there’s a lot to play for,” he added.
We’re headed to Bloemfontein this weekend 🛫
— Stellenbosch FC (@StellenboschFC) November 1, 2024
🆚 Marumo Gallants FC
🏆 #CarlingKnockout QF
🏟 Dr. Molemela Stadium
📅 Sunday, 3 November 2024
🕙 15h00
📺 SuperSport 209 & SABC Sport pic.twitter.com/pgrpeWOGaj
Gallants frustrated Stellenbosch’s attack for most of Thursday’s league meeting and only went behind to a Thabo Moloisane header at a corner in the last quarter hour of the game.
“It felt like they came to get a point, and hopefully catch us on a break or a set piece. They weren't as possession based as they can sometimes be,” said Barker, who felt Gallants would make changes for Sunday’s cup clash.
“I do anticipate they'll try and sort of dominate the game a little bit more in terms of trying to keep the ball and move us around, as opposed to them just sitting in. We have to be prepared for that. It won’t be easy, but we have to find a way to get past them.
“Beating a team twice within four days is not easy, but fortunately, we have done it recently against (Mamelodi) Sundowns, Vita as well as (Nsingizini) Hotspurs,” the Stellenbosch coach added.
“We've learned a little bit with the Cup success, to play back-to-back teams in four days. But it's going to be a different challenge and, again, we have to improve also in certain areas and come up with something different to hopefully also cause them problems. I don't think we caused them enough problems defensively (on Thursday),” said Barker.