In a recent triumph against Cape Town City FC, Stellenbosch FC’s head coach, Steve Barker, is making a compelling case for the inclusion of key players in the national squad.
Goalkeeper Sage Stephens and defensive talents Deano Van Rooyen and Fawaz Basadien have caught Barker’s discerning eye with their stellar performances.
Stellenbosch secured their second consecutive derby victory, overcoming Cape Town City FC 1-0 and putting an end to their rival’s six-match winning streak. This accomplishment followed a dominant 3-0 win against Cape Town Spurs just days earlier.
Barker, in an exclusive interview with iDiski Times, expressed his belief that Van Rooyen, the team’s captain, is more than deserving of a call-up to Bafana Bafana. He emphasized Van Rooyen’s consistent excellence over the years, highlighting his maturity, energy, and the ability to cause problems for opponents.
“Yeah, he [Van Rooyen] does. I believe he showed consistency over a number of years now,” Barker stated. “His caps that he’s getting week in and week out, the maturity that he shows, the energy that he shows, he’s the type of player that if the coach needs somebody with energy to sort of get in behind and cause teams problems.”
Barker acknowledged the potential scepticism around physicality, suggesting that it might be a factor influencing the decision-makers. However, he sees no valid reason why Van Rooyen shouldn’t at least be given a closer look, especially with the African Cup Of Nations looming in January.
The coach extended his endorsement to other standout players, including Fawaz Basadien and goalkeeper Sage Stephens, both of whom he believes have earned the right to be considered for national duty.
“The same can be said for a couple of players, I think Basadien he also deserves the opportunity and one or two others. So hopefully Jayden [Adams] can keep his position for AFCON and maybe with a bit of luck, we can have another addition to the squad, even a player like Sage Stephens has been showing remarkable form and also may deserve an opportunity amongst many others.”
Stellenbosch FC’s next challenge awaits them in the Carling Knockout Cup final against TS Galaxy on December 16 at Moses Mabhida Stadium. As they aim for cup glory, the spotlight remains on their standout performers, hoping for a national call-up that would be a testament to their exceptional contributions on the field.