Stellenbosch coach Steve Barker said his side is ready for one of the biggest games in the club’s history when they host Egypt’s Zamalek in first leg of their African Confederations Cup quarterfinal clash at the Cape Town Stadium on Wednesday.
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The Maroons, who are third in the Betway Premiership, will be looking to upset the competition’s holders, who are chasing back-to-back titles.
“I believe it's a momentous occasion for us as a football club. It's not an April Fool’s joke, we're here,” Barker told the pre-match press conference.
“So yeah, we're looking forward to it, we know the challenges that lie ahead but at the same time I believe we've earned the right to be here and we've deserved this opportunity.”
Reaching the quarterfinals of a continental competition and challenging a powerhouse like Zamalek is another milestone in Stellenbosch’s short history, the importance of which is not lost on Barker.
“If we look back over the last couple of years, having played in the Carling Knockout final, having won that, having played in the MTN8 final, it shows that the club is progressing. We've been playing big matches … but I believe there's different levels.
"Playing on the continent, I think, is a different level. To be playing a team such as Zamalek who are the defending champions, who've won the Champions League, not just the [Confederations Cup] but the Champions League five times, it becomes a massive game for us,” said Barker.
Despite the occasion and opponent, Barker believes his men are up to the task.
“I don't think we'd be wrong in saying that this is one of the biggest games that the club [has been] involved in. So, yes, we're privileged to be in this position. But at the same time, I keep wanting to remind everyone that I think we've earned the right to be on the same park as a team as Zamalek.
"A lot of people may believe we don't have an opportunity, but our team is built on resilience. It's built on the ability to overcome challenges.”
NOT WANTING TO LEAVE EMPTY-HANDED
Aware of the challenges that the away leg will bring, Barker does not want his players to leave the Cape Town Stadium empty-handed on Wednesday.
The second leg is in Cairo next week.
“I think we all know that travelling to Cairo and playing teams away from home in North Africa is never easy. It's a massive challenge. The biggest thing for us is that we have to go to Cairo with either something to hold on to or something to fight for.
The tie can't be lost tomorrow, hence, it is our home ground […] I think that we have to do the best that we can to ensure that we can take something to Cairo to hold on to.”
However, Barker stated that his side cannot solely rely on their status as “giant killers” within South African football to carry them past a team of Zamalek’s quality.
“On occasions where we need to be that team, we are good at it. We've done it over a number of years. But we can't just rely on it. I think we've got a couple more strings attached to our bow, as before. But importantly, we do things the way we do and our success comes from just doing what we think is best for the group of players that we have.”