Stellenbosch FC made a promising start to their CAF Confederation Cup Group C campaign with a crucial 1-0 victory over Congolese rivals AS Otoho at the New Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane on Sunday.
Substitute Ashley Cupido’s dramatic stoppage-time strike not only showcased the team’s resilience but also set a positive tone for their upcoming challenge against Singida Black Stars next Sunday in Zanzibar.
Coach Steve Barker expressed satisfaction with his side’s performance, noting that the home victory was a critical component of their campaign strategy.
“It was a nice win for us and a good start to the campaign. It’s important to win your home games, and we’ve done that, so we look forward to next Sunday away in Zanzibar against Singida Black Stars,” Barker commented after the match.
With the victory in their debut match, Barker emphasised the necessity for his team to maintain momentum as they prepare for the away fixture against their Tanzanian Premier League opponents.
“We’ve got ourselves off to a good start, so now we have to back it up with more points in the away game,” he asserted, underlining the need for consistency as the competition progresses.
The victory sees Stellenbosch on three points in Group C, currently trailing CR Belouizdad, which won its opening match against Singida Black Stars 2-0 on Saturday. As the competition unfolds, the pressure mounts for Stellenbosch to maintain their momentum and build on this positive start.
Barker expressed his satisfaction with the team’s performance, acknowledging the challenges posed by their opponents from Congo.
“A win is a win, and scoring at the death is the best time to get a lead,” Barker remarked, adding,
“Before the game started, we didn’t know our opposition that well … they seemed to be a decent team. They’re technically quite good, have decent players, and looked quite threatening at times.”
To prevent early setbacks seen in previous games, Stellenbosch adopted a pragmatic strategy.
“We didn’t want to fall behind, so we were a little bit more pragmatic in our approach,” explained Barker.
The first half unfolded with both teams testing each other’s defences, but it was Stellenbosch’s disciplined shape and organisation that kept AS Otoho at bay, allowing only one notable threat from a free-kick before half-time.
The second half saw a shift in Stellenbosch’s fortunes, as the depth of their squad began to make a difference.
Barker had a feeling the opposition would tire, and with a roster full of talent he unleashed substitutes such as Cupido and Thato Khiba, who were crucial in turning the tide of the match.
“One good moment, a good pass in behind by Thato for Ashley, where he is at his deadliest running onto things, and we got the goal,” he recounted.
Before setting off to Zanzibar, Stellenbosch will return to Premiership action on Wednesday evening for a fixture against Orbit College in Rustenburg. Stellenbosch’s miserable Premiership form sees them in a lowly 15th place on the log, with only two wins after 12 games.
The in-form Monnapule Saleng will spearhead the attack for Orbit, who are in 13th place after 12 games. They have been inconsistent of late, with three wins and two defeats in their last five league outings.
