Stellenbosch coach Steve Barker is hoping that new signing Darrel Matsheke could step in and fill the boots vacated by Sibongiseni Mthethwa, who has since moved to Kaizer Chiefs.
Matsheke, who started his career at Chiefs and also had spells at Uthongathi and Moroka Swallows, is in the reckoning for a place in the starting line up for Saturday’s Telkom Knockout semifinal against Richards Bay in Durban, after a man of the match performance in midweek, where he scored his first ever goal.
“His best position as a defensive midfielder, at No 6. We did lose Mthethwa to Chiefs, so we were a little bit thin in that area. We only had Sihle Nduli and if Nduli had to have got injured or not be available to play for an extended period of time, it would put us under pressure,” explained Barker.
“So we signed Darrel, he trained with us in Jo’burg, when we had a match up there, and he was looking for a team and it didn't take longer than eight minutes before I said, ‘no, we must sign him”. He's got great attitude, he's got bite, he's got physicality, he likes to defend. He knows his role in the team. And credit to him, you know, he's had some big performance, a slice of light. And again, it just adds to the depth of the squad and the competition for places.
Barker said the 24-year-old was a top acquisition and he showed as much as he covered for Nduli in the 3-0 win over Cape Town Spurs in the DStv Premiership on Tuesday.
“We're very pleased to have a player like him, he's played at Chiefs, he's played in the Champions League. So I think he's a real good quality player, and it's just added to our squad.”