Fawaaz Basadien of Stellenbosch scored the penalty that secured a 1-1 draw against Richards Bay. Photo: BackpagePix
Stellenbosch coach Steve Barker has accepted that Betway Premiership heavyweights, Mamelodi Sundowns and Orlando Pirates, will dominate this season, and his team will have to aim for a top-three finish.
Against expectations, Stellenbosch were held to a 1-1 draw by the visiting Richards Bay at the Danie Craven Stadium on Friday.
Whatever plans Stellenbosch had for securing maximum points were derailed when Richards Bay scored in the third minute. This was the fastest goal scored by the Natal Rich Boyz since they joined the top flight of South African football in 2022.
Despite their strong grip on the match, Stellenbosch never managed to overcome their early setback but were awarded a second-half penalty, giving them a chance to at least draw the game. Fawaaz Basadien converted the penalty after Thato Mohlamme had given the visitors an early lead.
“Obviously, it is not the result we wanted to get at home against Richards Bay, but you never really plan for the kind of start that happened this evening,” said Barker.
“It took a lot away from the plans we had. They got the goal and then sat deep, which made it more difficult for us.
“We tried. One could see that we were moving the ball well, had a lot of possession, and created some chances here and there.”
After failing to respond in the first half, Stellenbosch made three changes at the break, with Andre de Jong, Langlihle Phili, and Lesiba Nku coming on.
“I thought the substitutes had a good impact on the game. In the second half, we wanted to continue doing what we were doing—keep moving the ball, get it into the right areas, and keep attacking—which we did.
“I felt that it just wasn’t going to happen, but then we got the goal (the penalty). I think if we had scored 10-15 minutes earlier, we would have given ourselves enough time to go on and win the game.
“Their threat was always on the counterattack, and they had one or two big moments to get a winner. It wasn’t a lack of effort, commitment, or trying to win the game—we did that—but it was just a bit difficult to break down the low block they had.”
Barker believes a top-three Premiership finish is a realistic target.
“If you look at the log table, Pirates and Sundowns are in a league of their own this season. They are proving their strength even on the continent; they are powerhouse teams,” said Barker.
“So, we have to believe we can finish in the top three. That must be our target, and we have some key games coming up—at home on Tuesday against Magesi, Friday against Polokwane City, and then away to Marumo Gallants the following Tuesday.
“There’s still a lot of football to be played. We just have to be a little more ruthless, whether it’s being more streetwise or creating better chances.”
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