Stellenbosch FC Coach Steve Barker Relieved After Hard-Fought Win Against Marumo Gallants
Stellenbosch FC head coach Steve Barker expressed his relief after his team secured a late 1-0 victory over Marumo Gallants in a Betway Premiership match at Cape Town Stadium on Thursday evening. Thabo Moloisane scored the crucial goal with less than 15 minutes remaining, pushing Stellies up to fourth place in the league standings with 11 points, while Gallants remained in 14th place with only four points.
Reflecting on the victory, Barker acknowledged the challenges of competing in the Betway Premiership, where every point must be earned. He praised his team's control in the first half, although they struggled to create scoring opportunities. The second half, he noted, was a test of their tempo and intensity. "We all know that in the Betway Premiership there are no easy points on offer, so we had to work really hard for it today," said Barker. "Credit to [Marumo Gallants], though; they came here and fought hard to at least get a point. We held out, but it was just really hard fought. When you fight hard like this in games like these, sometimes they are more rewarding."
The game saw limited chances in the first half, with Stellenbosch's Ashley Cupido coming close in the 37th minute. His shot, however, missed the mark. Andre de Jong also had a promising attempt later in the half, but his shot was deflected.
Finally, in the 76th minute, Stellenbosch broke the deadlock. Fawaaz Basadien's corner led to a scramble in the box, where Moloisane seized the chance and headed the ball into the net. Gallants nearly equalized with a late free-kick opportunity, but Sibusiso Khumalo's shot went over the goal.
As Gallants intensified their attacks, Stellenbosch held strong, with goalkeeper Sage Stephens blocking a long-range effort by Phathutshedzo Nange. In a final play, Devin Titus found himself in a one-on-one with Gallants' goalkeeper Washington Arubi but missed the target.
This hard-earned win was a significant boost for Barker's team as they climbed the league table, showcasing resilience in a competitive environment.
Reflecting on the victory, Barker acknowledged the challenges of competing in the Betway Premiership, where every point must be earned. He praised his team's control in the first half, although they struggled to create scoring opportunities. The second half, he noted, was a test of their tempo and intensity. "We all know that in the Betway Premiership there are no easy points on offer, so we had to work really hard for it today," said Barker. "Credit to [Marumo Gallants], though; they came here and fought hard to at least get a point. We held out, but it was just really hard fought. When you fight hard like this in games like these, sometimes they are more rewarding."
The game saw limited chances in the first half, with Stellenbosch's Ashley Cupido coming close in the 37th minute. His shot, however, missed the mark. Andre de Jong also had a promising attempt later in the half, but his shot was deflected.
Finally, in the 76th minute, Stellenbosch broke the deadlock. Fawaaz Basadien's corner led to a scramble in the box, where Moloisane seized the chance and headed the ball into the net. Gallants nearly equalized with a late free-kick opportunity, but Sibusiso Khumalo's shot went over the goal.
As Gallants intensified their attacks, Stellenbosch held strong, with goalkeeper Sage Stephens blocking a long-range effort by Phathutshedzo Nange. In a final play, Devin Titus found himself in a one-on-one with Gallants' goalkeeper Washington Arubi but missed the target.
This hard-earned win was a significant boost for Barker's team as they climbed the league table, showcasing resilience in a competitive environment.
