Steve Barker relishing Carling Knockout Cup win over Kaizer Chiefs

Stellies came out trumps 5-4 of penalties after 120 minutes of football yielded no goal, and will face other giant killers Marumo Gallants in the quarter-finals after the draw was conducted last night. 

Barker says although the goal was to get into the next round, beating Chiefs while doing it makes it all the more special.

"I'm never one that sort of holds grudges or looks to beat the team because of one, two, three but I had a strong sense and the message was to players that this is an opportunity for some redemption,” Barker said. 

“We've had close calls, we've got red cards going against us in tight games and having lost to them three times last season and already this season, you know apparently we've played them five times in one calendar year. 

“It just was important for us not to go lose a fifth game against them, so the message was it's our opportunity to just first of all win a game so we can get into the last eight, the main objective and the second objective one to try and keep 11 players on the pitch for as long as possible. 

“Which we did fortunately for the last bit of the game but it was an important win for us against a team that has been beating us regularly for our own liking."

READ: Chiefs coach Kaze vows to address Ntwari’s penalty drama behind closed doors

Goalkeeper Sage Stephens, who ironically didn’t start the match but came on as a substitute after Oscarine Masuluke got injured, was the hero for Barker after saving two penalties from Tashreeq Morris and Dillan Solomons. 

He was given his flowers by the coach after the match.

"Very happy for Sage, he lives with his heart and soul for the club, he gives everything every single time he has an opportunity. He's a great leader for the football club, his heart and soul is in the football club and before the game he was not starting today, he was fully behind the decision and fully behind Oscarine,” Barker added. 

“So, he deserves that joy of saving two big penalties and probably took the calmest penalty out of everybody."