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Barker targets league double over Thwihli Thwahla

football28 March 2024 17:00| © Backpage TXT
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Steve Barker © Gallo Images

Stellenbosch head coach Steve Barker has urged his team to maintain their "incredible run" of form as he looks to do the league double over Royal AM at the Danie Craven Stadium on Saturday.

Kick-off is at 3pm CAT (SA, GMT+2)

CURRENT FORM

The Maroons have put themselves in the frame for CAF Champions League football after embarking on an 11-match unbeaten run in the DStv Premiership following an indifferent start of the season.

Barker's side crushed Milford 6-1 in the Nedbank Cup round of 16 a fortnight ago to make it 17 games without defeat in all competitions, 13 of those ending in wins.

Stellies drew 1-1 with relegation-threatened Cape Town Spurs in their last league encounter on 9 March to move up to fourth in the standings, just one point behind Orlando Pirates (2nd) and SuperSport United (3rd).

John Maduka hasn't managed to get the best of out Thwihli Thwahla since returning to the helm in February 2023 after pulling off the remarkable achievement of guiding the club to a third-placed finish on their top-flight debut in 2021-22.

Maduka has picked up just seven wins from 19 outings this term, although he masterminded a surprise 2-0 victory over Cape Town City on 10 March to continue improving their fortunes in 2024.

The KZN outfit held Kaizer Chiefs to a 0-0 draw on their return to domestic action after the mid-season break and followed it up with a 2-1 triumph against Richards Bay before going down 1-0 to Sekhukhune United.

Maduka's side find themselves just one point outside the top eight in 10th position with a game in hand on Golden Arrows (8th).

They squandered the lead against Stellenbosch in the reverse fixture to lose 3-1 at the Harry Gwala Stadium on 18 August.

WHAT WAS SAID

Stellenbosch head coach Steve Barker

"I think it's now 17 games unbeaten with 13 wins and four draws which is really, really an incredible run.

"It's turning out to be a special season but the important part is to see it through, especially in the league, to maintain our position.

"If you are able to get maximum points with home and away wins it's always good.

"We are desperate to keep getting those Ws (wins) behind us and this is a good opportunity for us to try and get a double over them (Royal AM)."

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Stellenbosch - Iqraam Rayners will be brimming with confidence after scoring his first international goal for Bafana Bafana in the 3-3 draw with Algeria on Tuesday.

The 28-year-old striker was also on target against the Urban Warriors after he equalised from the penalty spot on 71 minutes to take his tally for the campaign to seven goals from 17 appearances, placing him three behind Lucas Ribeiro, who tops the scoring charts.

Royal AM - Sabelo Sithole is growing in stature after being promoted to the first team at the start of the season and he played a starring role in the win over the Citizens.

The 21-year-old midfielder drew a fine save out of Darren Keet in the first half and fired over from 14 yards out early in the second half before scoring a fine individual goal on 58 minutes to get off the mark for his club.

HEAD-TO-HEAD (Last Five DStv Premiership Meetings)

Matches - 5

Stellenbosch wins - 2

Royal AM wins - 2

Draws - 1

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