Stellenbosch coach Steve Barker was furious after his side was knockout out of teh Nedbank Cup this past weekend.
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Stellenbosch FC, who were at the sharp end of poor officiating by match officials in Saturday's match against the darlings of Soweto, Kaizer Chiefs, will host another Soweto opponent on Tuesday night (kick-off 7.30pm).
This time, it is Orlando Pirates, currently Soweto's strongest team and chasing Betway Premiership glory.
At Saturday's post-match interview at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, an angry Stellenbosch coach, Steve Barker, listed several refereeing injustices against his team in matches against Chiefs and Pirates. His frustration boiled over after his side was eliminated from the Nedbank Cup by a controversial goal in their quarter-final clash against Chiefs.
Against this backdrop, Stellenbosch will set their sights on turning the tables on their Soweto opponents. It may not be Chiefs, but Pirates are also in Barker's crosshairs. Additionally, Pirates incurred Stellenbosch's wrath when they refused a request to reschedule a Nedbank Cup fixture so that Stellenbosch could play at a Western Cape venue.
Stellenbosch currently sits third on the league standings, and a victory for Barker’s team would close the gap between them and second-placed Pirates to five points.
The Buccaneers are flying high after winning two games in a row following a shock 2-0 defeat to Marumo Gallants at the start of the month. One was a 1-0 away victory against Chippa United last week, and the other was a penalty shoot-out win against SuperSport United in Saturday's Nedbank Cup quarter-final in Polokwane.
Given the team’s fine run of form, Pirates coach Jose Riveiro has much to consider. He is frequently asked about the team’s chances of achieving the quadruple this season. Pirates remain in contention for the CAF Champions League, Betway Premiership, and Nedbank Cup trophies after having already won the MTN8.
This week, Riveiro also has a massive fixture to plan for, as they host Mamelodi Sundowns on Sunday.
"It's very important for us to give our best in every competition we participate in. As a group, we have had the ambition, since day one, to play in every final and to compete in every last game of each competition. We aim to be No 1 in every tournament we enter," said Riveiro.
"We are realistic and understand the difficulty of reaching the final game in every competition. So far, I think we've done a good job as a team and a club in this regard."
Stellenbosch will be pinning their hopes on New Zealander Andre de Jongh, who made a great impact with a second-half equalizer against Chiefs. He is a crafty player, skilled at moving into positions where he loses his marker and creates space in the attacking zone.
Pirates, on the other hand, will bank on goalkeeper Sipho Chaine, who was in outstanding form against SuperSport United. He made crucial saves in the penalty shoot-out, ensuring his team finished on the winning side. Following his stellar performance between the posts, the 28-year-old Chaine will be eager to keep a clean sheet against Stellies.