Stellenbosch FC coach is aiming at creating history by leading the club towards lifting the MTN8 trophy in their first-ever tournament final.
The Cape Winelands side will battle Orlando Pirates in their first-ever final of the MTN8 Cup at Moses Mabhida on Saturday 5 October kicking off at 18:00.
Barker revealed while addressing the media ahead of the clash that it has been a long-held ambition for him to make history for the Club by winning the competition as a coach, after previously lifting the trophy in its previous incarnation during his playing days.
“When we got promoted many years back, in our first season in the top flight, I said the MTN8 is the one,” he said.
“It’s a competition that I’ve always wanted to be involved in as a coach, because as a player I won it in ’95 as a player when it was still the BP Top 8, so it is a special trophy to win.
“It’s an early-season tournament and winning it would give confidence for the rest of the season, a trophy and medals for the players, and good financial reward, so it would be a good start to win the MTN8.
“Pirates have had that experience over the last two seasons, and they’re going for a third which is a magnificent opportunity for them to make history, but we want to create our own history by lifting the trophy.”
Saturday’s event follows just a few months after Stellenbosch FC triumphed over TS Galaxy to claim the Carling Knockout. Barker believes that the high-pressure experience from that match will be incredibly valuable in their upcoming encounter with the Buccaneers.
“It’s not often that you get the opportunity to play in finals,” he added. “We did recently, about six or seven months ago, so to be in another final is exciting, not only for me but also for the players and the club.
“Everyone is looking forward to embracing the challenge that lies ahead. We had that taste of victory and I think that taste of success has put the players in a really good space in terms of approaching the game with the right levels of commitment and desire against a really good team.
“…The experience gained from that will stand us in good stead. The players will have experienced playing in a final and that does carry over.
“But I remind myself, and I remind the players, that you must not take it for granted that we reach finals. Being in finals is not easy, it takes special runs and special matches like for us to have got past a team like Mamelodi Sundowns over two legs to get there.
“You must not take that for granted and cherish the moment, look forward to the occasion, and understand that playing in the final is a special occasion for us as coaches, players, the club, and our fans.”
Barker’s team has managed to gain three victories and come up short once in their past four meetings against the Soweto Giants.