Stellenbosch FC have earned a reputation as a refreshing presence in South African football, but this season the ruthless side of the game has set in, forcing the Cape Winelands outfit to confront one of their sternest battles yet.
Winless in their last five outings, Stellies find themselves in an unfamiliar 14th place on the league table, with just five points from eight matches.
Their most recent 0-0 stalemate against Durban City may have provided coach Steve Barker with a point to cling to, but it did little to ease their struggles in the standings. For Barker, though, the result represents a potential turning point and something to build on in the weeks ahead.
It has been a difficult start to the campaign for the Lesotho-born coach, who has long faced the annual frustration of losing key players before the beginning of each season. For years, Stellies managed to punch above their weight despite this cycle of departures, but they may now be paying the price — not only for the exits of this year but for the steady talent drain over several seasons.
Many of the players who once wore maroon are now displaying their quality elsewhere, and that gulf in experience is beginning to shift Stellenbosch from a side capable of finishing in the top three into one now fighting to stay competitive.
Yet Barker was buoyed by what he saw from his charges against Gavin Hunt’s Durban City. Though he would have liked all three points, the 57-year-old took heart from the attitude and effort shown.
“We needed a response — I thought our performance in the previous game wasn’t good enough,” Barker told SuperSport TV.
“Today the players showed character and heart, and you could see they were trying to win the game. They gave everything, though the conditions didn’t help.
“We were the team that looked to dominate and get the goal, while they relied on transitions, longer balls and set-pieces. Sometimes, when it’s not going your way, you just need a bit of luck, and tonight we could have found that goal to get us over the line.
“But as I told the players at half-time, if we continue to play with this commitment and attitude, we will win a lot of games.”
That level of fight will be essential in the weeks ahead. Stellies face Chippa United away on Sunday, while the Carling Knockout Cup is set to begin and their CAF Confederation Cup campaign kicks off next month. Barker is hoping that a clean sheet can lay the foundations for an overdue upturn in results.
“Keeping a clean sheet was important for us,” he added.
“After the effort we put in, it was crucial that we didn’t lose. We’ve conceded some silly, soft goals in our last two matches, so it was vital not to get sucker-punched. We can take heart from it. Of course, at home you want wins, but it’s a start. We’ll rise slowly, climb game by game, and once we hit our form, we can kick on.”
