Stellenbosch FC head coach Steve Barker has provided insight into the club’s pre-season strategy, revealing that the team has traveled to Johannesburg for a crucial training camp.
The move, as explained by Barker, is a deliberate choice to leverage favorable weather conditions and altitude training, along with securing quality competitive matches against various opponents.
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While some of their Betway Premiership rivals like Orlando Pirates (Spain) and Kaizer Chiefs (Netherlands) have opted for international tours, Barker believes a Gauteng-based pre-season offers a solid foundation for their upcoming 2025/26 Betway Premiership campaign.
Strategic Friendlies and Integration of New Signings
Speaking to the Sowetan, Barker emphasized the importance of the Johannesburg camp for match preparation. “We’ve decided to come up to Gauteng. Probably one of the main reasons is just good competition, varied competition and to get some good match sharpness and match fitness, which will be good to integrate the new players into the squad,” he stated.
As part of their pre-season schedule, Stellies will face three local teams in friendly matches: TS Galaxy, Siwelele FC, and JDR Stars. These fixtures are designed to provide essential minutes for the players and allow the coaching staff to assess the squad’s readiness.
Leveraging Altitude and Weather Advantage
Barker also highlighted the environmental benefits of training in Johannesburg.
“Obviously the weather has been a little bit wet down in Cape Town, so we also came to get sort of dry weather training and a little bit of some altitude training,” the experienced mentor added. This strategic decision aims to optimize the physical conditioning of the players ahead of a demanding season.
With the MTN8 quarter-final clash against AmaZulu just two weeks away, Barker’s immediate focus is on ensuring his squad is physically and tactically prepared. “Our main focus will be the three friendlies we will be playing against Galaxy, JDR and Siwelele, so we want our players to get minutes under their belts,” he explained.
Welcoming New Faces to the Squad
Barker has been actively involved in shaping his squad for the new season. Stellenbosch FC has welcomed several new signings, including Muzomuhle Khanyi from Hungry Lions and Siviwe Nkwali from Cape Town Spurs.
They have also brought in Henri Stanic from Balzan FC, adding international flair to the team. Furthermore, promising talent Simthandile Sishi has been promoted from the Stellenbosch DStv Diski team, showcasing the club’s commitment to nurturing homegrown talent.
Barker expressed satisfaction with the new additions, noting their seamless integration into the team. “Overall, I am happy with the players who’ve joined us from other clubs.
They’re settling in nicely, [and] they show energy and enthusiasm. I’m very pleased with the last three weeks that we’ve got back from the off-season,” he concluded.
The pre-season camp in Johannesburg is expected to play a vital role in Stellenbosch FC’s preparations, setting the stage for what they hope will be a successful 2025/26 campaign.