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Stellenbosch FC are set to use their upcoming MTN8 final against Orlando Pirates as motivation in over the course of the FIFA international break, says coach Steve Barker.
Stellies have had a tough start to the 2025/26 campaign, having lost three of their opening five Betway Premiership matches, with only one win and draw so far.
Barker admitted, following their 1-0 loss to Mamelodi Sundowns at Athlone Stadium, they have not had the best of starts, but is counting on the cup final to lift the mood in camp over the next two weeks.
"We've had a bit of a difficult start, but within all those games we've also shown that we are capable, so it's just important for us to look forward to the [MTN8] final coming up," said Barker.
"If we didn't have the final to look forward to, it would have been a tough FIFA break, but we do have something to look forward to.
"And obviously still a lot of work still to be done in the league, and I think over a period of time, I've got to sort of see what we have available, with [Thapelo] Mokobodi getting some time today and showing his qualities.
"[Mthetheleli] Mthiyane has now settled in, and obviously Bradley [Mojela] coming back from a long-term injury and starting to find his feet.
"So it's just about [using] this FIFA break to regroup and to ensure our next league matches going forward, we have to be picking up a lot more points that what we are."
Meanwhile, the coach also noted that Orlando Pirates’ preparations could be a bit hamstrung by the amount of players heading to Bafana Bafana ahead of the Wafa Wafa final on 13 September.
"Pirates, I think, have seven players selected for the Bafana squad, so we can really knuckle down. I think this was our seventh game in 20 days, with eight games in August," he added.
"So a couple of day regeneration, giving the players off until Wednesday, will allow us to just refresh and really concentrate on working with the team and preparing really well for the final."
