Stellenbosch FC head coach Steve Barker hopes for third time luck in the MTN8 competition after losing in the quarterfinal, semi-final and fina in the past three season.
Stellies will be playing their fourth MTN8 quarter-final in the last four seasons. The Cape Winelands side suffered a defeat against Kaizer Chiefs via penalties in 2022.
The following season they were knocked out in the semi-final by Orlando Pirates on the away-goal rule after losing the first leg by 2-1 at home before winning the second leg 1-0 away from home.
Last season, Barker’s side lost to Pirates in the final in a controversial manner, and this year Stellies are aiming to go one step further – but they first need to get past Sekhukhune United, who started the season with three wins.
“Obviously, being in another semi-final is just credit again, to the club and the players,” Barker said ahead of the match.
“We’ve managed to be a team that’s been over the last couple of seasons, got into the back end of all competitions, so we’ve missed out, unfortunately, last year being runners-up.
“So there’s a massive and high desire amongst the team, amongst the staff, amongst the club to take it a step further.
“But first things first, we’ve got a tough opposition that we have to overcome in a two-legged match starting tomorrow, so our focus is on that, to get past tomorrow, and then focus on the mid-week league game, and then the return leg following Saturday. So really, looking forward to it.
“There’s a lot of enthusiasm around the squad, a lot of energy amongst the players, and it’s always exciting to be in semi-finals, and especially that be playing at home tomorrow, an opportunity for us to play in front of our home fans at our home ground.“
The match kicks off at 18:00 at Danie Craven Stadium in Stellenbosch.