The MTN8 trophy has long been in the sights of Stellenbosch, who will be up against Orlando Pirates in Saturday’s final at the Moses Mabidhida Stadium, according to coach Steve Barker.
“When we got promoted many years back, in our first season in the top flight, I said the MTN8 is the one,” Barker explained as Stellenbosch readied to head to Durban for the decider against the holders.
“It’s a competition that I’ve always wanted to be involved in as a coach, because I won it in ’95 as a player when it was still the BP Top 8, so it is a special trophy to win.
“It’s an early-season tournament and winning it would give confidence for the rest of the season, a trophy and medals for the players, and good financial reward, so it would be a good start to win the MTN8.”
Stellenbosch won their first cup trophy last season with success in the Carling Knockout, when they edged TS Galaxy also in Durban, but Barker admitted Pirates will be a hard act to overcome.
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“Pirates have had that experience over the last two seasons, and they’re going for a third which is a magnificent opportunity for them to make history, but we want to create our own history by lifting the trophy,” he said.
Pirates are looking to be the first team to win the trophy three years in a row.
“It’s not often that you get the opportunity to play in finals,” Barker added. “We did recently, about six or seven months ago, so to be in another final is exciting, not only for me but also for the players and the club.
“The experience gained from that will stand us in good stead. The players will have experienced playing in a final and that does carry over.
“Everyone is looking forward to embracing the challenge that lies ahead. We had that taste of victory and I think that taste of success has put the players in a really good space in terms of approaching the game with the right levels of commitment and desire against a really good team,” the Stellenbosch coach added.
“But I remind myself, and I remind the players, that you must not take it for granted that we reach finals. Being in finals is not easy, it takes special runs and special matches like for us to have got past a team like Mamelodi Sundowns over two legs to get there.
“You must not take that for granted and cherish the moment, look forward to the occasion, and understand that playing in the final is a special occasion for us as coaches, players, the club, and our fans,” he said.