Steve Barker has been here before. And such are the lessons he’s learnt previously he knows that they can’t spend time sulking on what could have been.
Stellenbosch lost in the MTN8 final to Orlando Pirates at Moses Mabhida Stadium, the Sea Robbers sailing to a 3-1 win in regulation time.
Stellies were hopeful that they’d put up a gallant fight as they led through a goal from Lehlohonolo Mojela early in the first half. Pirates returned with so much vigour thereafter, though, that they equalised through attacker Monapule Saleng just before the interval.
The Bucs completed their win in the second half, with Tshegofatso Mabasa and Relebohile Mofokeng coming off the bench to seal the win with a goal each.
The win completed a ‘three-peat’ for Pirates in the competition and for coach Jose Riveiro, but it sure stung for Stellies and Barker. Stellies were not only hard-done by referee Abongile Tom’s decision to allow the second goal to stand, but by fate as well given how well they’ve been doing.
The Winelands-based side have been on an upward trajectory in recent years, winning the Carling Knockout cup at the same venue, Mabhida.
That Stellies reached the final of the ‘Beer Cup’ was the first of its kind, given that years before that they had come short in knockout competitions, reaching four successive semi-final without luck.
They reached the MTN8 and Nedbank Cup semi-finals back-to-back, before they finally won the Carling Knockout cup, beating TS Galaxy in the lottery of penalties. They built on that win, the only eight-year-old club achieving the improbable by finishing third in the league standings last season to qualify for Confederation Cup.
They didn’t only add up numbers in the preliminaries of the Confederation Cup en route to the group stage. They beat Nsingizini Hotspur and AS Vita respectively.
So, the MTN8 final might seem as though it derailed their progress – the loss in a cup final somewhat starting a déjà vu of their shortcomings in knockout from the past. But Barker is not reading too much into their recent loss, saying they’ll need to quickly dust themselves off and turn their attention to other trophies.
No questioning the commitment 👏 pic.twitter.com/u9bRKOXRkQ
“I think one can’t cry over spilt milk for too long,” a dejected Barker said, deep in the bowels of the World Cup stadium on Saturday night.
“We need to get over it. Fortunately, there's a Fifa break so that will give us time to just heal from the disappointment.
“There’s the Carling Knockout cup to defend which is starting soon. There’s the African campaign, and there’s a big task in the league.
“There’s still a lot to play for. We have a team of players who are young and determined. Yes, this will hurt and be a set-back, but sometimes pain makes you grow stronger.”
Stellies will know the team they’ll face when they begin their title defence this afternoon after the draw has been conducted at Galleria in Sandton. However, their Confederation Cup group stage opponents have been decided as they were drawn in Group B alongside RS Berkane, Stade Malien and Lunda Sol.