CAPE TOWN – Steve Barker insists his Stellenbosch FC will continue fighting to improve recent form after suffering a 2-0 Betway Premiership defeat at the hands of Siwelele FC.
Having recorded three consecutive home wins over Kaizer Chiefs, 15 de Agosto de Akonibe, and Golden Arrows last month, Stellies were unable to replicate those results on Wednesday after goals from Tebogo Potsane and Siviwe Magidigidi consigned the team to a 2-0 defeat to Siwelele at Athlone Stadium.
The outcome saw Stellies slip to 15th position in the Betway Premiership standings after 12 games played, with the club having endured an uncharacteristically challenging start to the 2025-26 domestic campaign.
“I am disappointed, especially in the way we’ve been conceding goals and our timing in conceding goals,” said Steve Barker.
“A lot of preparations had gone into putting in a big performance at home and trying to keep the momentum of winning games at Athlone, but once you go down 1-0 so early, you’re obviously chasing the game.
“But, I felt that because we conceded early, there was enough time to get ourselves back into it and hopefully get an equaliser, and then set ourselves to try to get a winning goal later.
“There were some good moments, not clear-cut chances, but an accumulation of enough half-chances, and with a bit of luck we could have found that equaliser before half time.
“The message to the players at the break was that, ‘We’ve got to keep believing and stay positive.’ We had shown enough in the first half to get ourselves back into it, but the key was not to concede again.
