LEKKER BAY DIE HUIS

STELLENBOSCH FC coach Steve Barker has called on his under-pressure span to produce “perseverance and resilience” in their upcoming two home Premiership matches. 

Stellies suffered a 2-1 defeat to AmaZulu on Wednesday – their third consecutive loss including last weekend’s MTN8 final loss to Orlando Pirates – and now find themselves languishing in 13th position on the league standings. 

Barker was hoping for his side to bounce back at the Princess Magogo Stadium, but instead a two-goal blitz from Usuthu’s Hendrick Eikstein sunk the Winelands club further into the quagmire.

The next challenge is Richards Bay, who are two places ahead of Stellies on the table, at the Danie Craven Stadium on Saturday followed by a head-on collision with another high-flying KwaZulu-Natal outfit Durban City next Wednesday.

Barker wysed: “Yeah, look, I think the message is quite clear.  You know, everybody, 14 other teams, ships were in the harbour on the weekend, all nice and safe.

“We had to go out to the seas and the Sea Robbers got the better of us in that match. Obviously difficult to then go back to Cape Town and then again fly to Durban. 

“So, we’ve had a challenging start to the season. We have more than enough in the tank to get our wins. Obviously, we’ve got back-to-back home games. Fortunately for us, against Richards Bay, Durban City, and then away to Chippa next weekend.

“So yeah, it becomes a massively important three matches for us to pick up points and just settle ourselves, settle the team.

“I just believe we need perseverance, resilience, patience, belief and trust.”

Premiership fixtures:

Saturday: Sekhukhune v Arrows, Magesi v Siwelele (both 3pm), Sundowns v Durban City, Orbit College v Gallants (both 8pm)

Sunday: Polokwane v Chippa (3pm)