Steve Barker happy with Stellenbosch’s back-to-back MTN8 finals

By Lonwabo Miso
24th August 2025

Stellenbosch FC coach Steve Barker says his side’s composure in the opening stages was key to sealing their spot in the MTN8 final.

Coming into the second leg with a two-goal advantage, Stellies managed the first half-hour effectively and went on to secure a 1-1 draw against Sekhukhune United at the Peter Mokaba Stadium.

That result gave them a 3-1 aggregate win and a second consecutive MTN8 final appearance. Barker says his players executed the plan perfectly under pressure.

"Sekhukhune obviously they needed to get an early goal so they obviously ruined the opportunity when they hit the crossbar and that would have you know changed the course of the game but I thought after that we responded really well, we played really well,” Barker said.

“We said that we would not just sit back and defend, we took the game to them and I think we deserved the goal that we scored. Obviously, having scored an away goal, after that we just had to make sure that we just stayed calm and composed, managed the situation, managed the game.

“Get to half-time without conceding and then second half was just game management and not conceding an early goal, which I think we did well."

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The Cape Winelands side wasted little time in tightening their grip on the tie.

Mthetheleli Mthiyane scored in the 23rd minute, his first goal for the club, to give Stellenbosch crucial breathing room.

Barker says that early breakthrough took the pressure off his team and set the tone for the rest of the match.

"There were two ways to win this game or get through to the final, it was to score first which I felt would make it really difficult for our opposition Sekhukhune to then score four to get through,” the coach added.

“So, it was very, very important for us to score first and conversely it was important for them to score first. I felt it was gonna be a match where the team that scored first would sort of have a bit of an upper hand.

“Although we knew that if we did concede at any stage, if we scored a goal, it would be difficult for them, so we are pleased that we got the goal that we needed."