Just like a master winemaker, Steve Barker is hoping his Stellenbosch can mature into a fine PSL side.
Since readying for the jump up from the NFD to the top-flight of South African football by winning the second-tier competition last season, the Winelands club have had to overcome a number of obstacles.
From their 11 games before last night’s clash against league leaders Kaizer Chiefs, they had picked up 11 points.
And while struggling early at the foot of the table early in the season, the newcomers certainly don’t believe that that is where they belong.
Barker admits that belief is one of the obstacles his players have to overcome in order to keep flourishing in the big leagues.
CHAMPIONS: Stellenbosch FC know what it takes to win. Picture: Ryan Wilkisky/BackpagePix.
He says of his newly-blended squad: “I think it’s gone the way I thought it would.
“I thought we’d have a tough start to the league just in terms of the turnaround of players we had and the inexperience of a lot of the guys who came up from the NFD.
“I would take eight to 10 matches to fully adjust to the league and become competitive.
“The second part was then to build on the unity.
“And then the belief that we belong here, that we are a team that belong here.
“I think it’s also been tough with seven of our 11 matches being away.”
COMPETITIVE: Stellenbosch. Picture: Ryan Wilksky/BackpagePix.
Having beaten Orlando Pirates last month, belief is taking root.
And Barker now hopes that he can refine their style of play from a direct game to something connoisseurs of the beautiful game will appreciate.
The former AmaTuks and AmaZulu boss adds: “We have a style and a philosophy that we want to build.
“But it’s not always easily implementable when you are pressure for long periods in a game.
“So we need to become more comfortable with a more possession and more effective on the ball and take care of the ball better.
“We also need to be more ruthless as well.”
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Finally, Stellies are desperate to move their operation back to their Idas Valley base create better vintage for their homes to enjoy.
Despite playing giants like Chiefs and Pirates at the foot of Table Mountain, there is no place like home for the Bolanders.