Stellenbosch FC return to Betway Premiership action against Golden Arrows at the Athlone Stadium this evening at 19:30.
Steve Barker’s side comes into this game on the back of a hard-fought goalless draw in the CAF Confederation Cup against the Equatorial Guinea side 15 de Agosto de Akonibe.
The draw was a welcome respite following some poor league form that sees them sit in 15th place on the standings with just six points from their opening nine games.
Arrows, meanwhile, were last in action in the Carling Knockout, where they overcame Sekhukhune United 3-1 and are six points better off than Stellies in ninth place with 13 points, which includes a recent 1-0 win over league leaders Mamelodi Sundowns.
Speaking after his side’s recent stalemate, Barker told his club’s website,” It’s always important that you don’t concede. ‘
“Keeping clean sheets is key to winning football matches, but we need to still continue working on converting more of the opportunities that we are creating, and in the final third, execution and decision-making.”
Arrows coach Manqoba Mngqithi says his team’s improvement in recent weeks is encouraging.
He said on IOL: “They excite me, the team has improved in leaps and bounds in many aspects, but we will have to see when it comes to real business whether we are where we think we are or still have a lot of work to do.”