After a rocky opening to their Betway Premiership season, Stellenbosch FC are looking to reset and refocus during the international break as they gear up for the MTN8 final showdown against Orlando Pirates.
The Cape-based outfit heads into the break on the back of a narrow 1-0 loss to Mamelodi Sundowns — marking their third defeat in just five league outings.
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With silverware on the line, coach Steve Barker is expected to recalibrate his squad and sharpen their strategy for the high-stakes encounter.
The fifty-seven year old mentor acknowledged the team’s struggles but sees the final as a critical opportunity to turn things around. “We’ve had a bit of a difficult start,” Barker admitted after the Sundowns loss.
“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.”
He noted that the prospect of the final, scheduled for September 13 at Mbombela Stadium, is a much-needed boost. “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.”
The break will also be used to integrate new and returning players. Barker mentioned that players like Thapelo Mokobodi have shown their qualities, while Mthetheleli Mthiyane has settled in, and Bradley Mojela is finding his form after a long-term injury.
“It’s just about this FIFA break to regroup and to ensure our next league matches going forward, we have to be picking up a lot more points,” he added.
Stellenbosch earned their spot in the final after a strong cup run, defeating AmaZulu 3-2 in the quarterfinals and securing a 3-1 aggregate victory over Sekhukhune United in the semifinals.
Their final opponents, Orlando Pirates, overcame Richards Bay and Mamelodi Sundowns to set up a thrilling rematch. Kick off at the Mbombela Stadium is set for 18h00 on Saturday, 13 September 2025.