Stellenbosch FC coach Steve Barker is eager to meet Fadlu Davids’ Simba SC in the semifinals of the CAF Confederations Cup.
Stellies are partaking in continental competition for the first time and qualified for the semis after defeating Egyptian giants Zamalek 1-0 in the second leg following a goalless draw in the first leg. Sihle Nduli’s second-half goal was enough to sink the defending champions.
Meanwhile, Simba, on the other hand, overturned a 2-0 deficit from the first leg against Al Masry, beating them 4-1 on penalties following a shocking 2-0 second leg win to make the score 2-2 on aggregate.
Barker was beaming with happiness after the game and revealed the tactics that led to his side’s victory.
“We didn’t want to go to penalties. We knew that if we scored one goal, then it would give us a big chance to qualify. We made substitutes at halftime, and then the substitutes that came in about the 65th minute,” Barker said after the match.
“Our plan was always to stay not 60, 65-minute, and we knew that we can bring on technical players that can pass and move, and we knew that Zamalek may start tiring, and I think it worked well.
After Simba’s 2-0 loss in the first leg, it looked like their campaign would end in the quarterfinals, but they managed to turn the situation around. Barker expressed his belief that his team can compete on the big stage given their steady growth over the years.
“I was convinced that we would be back here (Egypt) in two weeks, but I see that Simba won. So unfortunately we’re not coming back,” he said.
“We’ve grown a lot in a very short space of time. We won a cup in our domestic league last season, and this season we were in the final of the MTN8.
“We’ve played often against teams like Orlando Pirates and Mamelodi Sundowns, and we’ve held our own… We’re very proud of what we’re doing and look forward to the game against Simba,” he concluded.
The Cape Winelands team will visit Tanzania for the first leg of the crucial semifinals on April 20 at Benjamin Mkapa Stadium.