Stellenbosch cannot afford to spend time dwelling on Sunday’s loss to Kaizer Chiefs, said coach Steve Barker despite the disappointment of going down 2-0 at the Athlone Stadium in their opening match of the new Betway Premiership season.
Stellenbosch have a league game in midweek against Magesi at Seshego followed by the first leg of their MTN8 semifinal against Sekhukhune United at home on Saturday.
“We need to bounce back immediately, we can't dwell on this,” said Barker after goals from Nkosingiphile Ngcobo and Glody Lilepo saw Chiefs beat a 10-man Stellenbosch 2-0.
“Tomorrow we need to stand up and refresh ourselves and be resilient and show bounce back ability for a big three points on offer on Wednesday,” he added.
But he could not hide his disappointment at defeat in Stellenbosch’s opening league game.
“We came to the game with great anticipation, it was nice to play our first league game of the season in front of a packed crowd, so a lot of anticipation and excitement around the fixture,” said Barker.
“Obviously, you know, the red card so early in the game will always make it difficult for us. That's one thing that we tell the players …. red cards and penalties are just not worth it over a season, so hopefully we've given both away for the remainder of the season.”
New signing Siviwe Nkwali, making his debut, was red carded after only 13 minutes for a foul on goal bound Mduduzi Shababala.
“I felt our response after conceding the goal was really strong. I thought from the red card (13th minute) up until halftime, we really forced the issue.
“We were on the front foot. We obviously created a couple of some really good chances, hit the cross bar, post, some big saves, a lot of pressure put on them.
"I thought that was our moment that we needed to get something from it, but for some reason it looked like it just wasn't going to go in, but it wasn't through a lack of effort or trying to get back into the game.
“Had we just been a bit more fortunate and got a goal before halftime, I think the game and the complexion may have been a bit different.”
But in the second half Barker said it proved more difficult.
“Obviously, you know, playing so long just with 10 men, you could see the legs were not as fresh as they should be and obviously with a big game in midweek, on Wednesday away at Magesi, it was just sort of trying to manage the situation.
"As the game went longer, we tried to gamble a bit more, which obviously again leads to us being vulnerable at the back. I was hoping that perhaps we could sneak something, whether it'd be a set piece, whether it be a mistake from them at the back or whether it just be some bit of magic from somebody and salvage a point from the game. But unfortunately, it was not to be.”