Stellenbosch are not sure yet where they will host the first leg of their African Confederation Cup quarterfinal against holders Zamalek, but coach Steve Barker says it is likely to be played at the Cape Town Stadium.
“The game has been scheduled for Wednesday, April 2. We wouldn't have been able to play there with the original date because there's a concert, but I think that by Wednesday, they should have sorted out the stadium. It's not confirmed, but I do believe it’s there,” he said.
The Confederation of African Football originally scheduled the first leg matches of their club competition quarterfinals ties to the last weekend in March but then moved them back because they followed too so after the international window for World Cup qualifiers, with the possibility of players being late getting back to their clubs.
Cape Town Stadium is the only venue in the Western Cape with approval from CAF to host international games, but Stellenbosch have used it only once for the five home games they have played in this year’s Confederation Cup.
They have used Durban’s Moses Mabhida Stadium and Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria twice each for the other game because the Cape Town Stadium was not available.
Barker said Stellenbosch were looking forward to the challenge of taking on the Egyptian giants.
“Whatever team we got in the draw, they were all going to be really tough opponents. But, yeah, playing a team like Zamalek … a team steeped in history and tradition that won it the Champions League five times and is a giant on the continent … is a great opportunity,” he said.
“There is a lot of excitement around the club, to have that opportunity to play a team like them. Five-six years ago when we started out, I don't think many people would have seen a fixture of Stellenbosch playing Zamalek on the horizon!
So, yeah, it's real excitement and we’re really looking forward to it. And you know, the pressure is not on us. We just got to go out there and have a go and see how far that takes us,” Barker added.