Stellenbosch FC’s impressive three-match home winning streak came to an abrupt end on Wednesday evening. Two early goals in the first and second half pushed Siwelele FC to a 2-0 victory at Athlone Stadium.
Tebogo Potsane and Siviwe Magidigidi were the stars for the Bloemfontein based side condemning Stellies to a relegation play off berth.
Head coach Steve Barker described the Cape side’s form as an “uncharacteristically challenging start” to the 2025-26 domestic campaign.
Stellenbosch had entered the match buoyed by consecutive home victories over Kaizer Chiefs, 15 de Agosto de Akonibe, and Golden Arrows last month. The team was unable to maintain that momentum against Siwelele.
“I am disappointed, especially in the way we’ve been conceding goals and our timing in conceding goals,” Barker said during the post-match press conference. “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.”
Tebogo Potsane, slotted a good low cross to put the home side 1-0 down within the 3rd minute. Barker felt his side had sufficient time to mount a comeback. He highlighted several promising moments in the first half that could have yielded an equaliser with better fortune.
“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,” he explained.
Going into the shed at 1-0 down, the home team felt confident of mounting a come back. However in the 4th minute of the second half their hope were extinguished. Tebogo Potsane found Siviwe Magidigidi, with a magnifient through ball. Magidigidi rounded the keeper to blast one into an empty net.
The veteran coach expressed frustration at his team’s defensive vulnerabilities. Stating that the nature of goals conceded was “unacceptable and not good enough.”
Barker suggested the upcoming FIFA international break could provide a welcome respite for his squad.
“The break probably comes at a good time,” he said. “This was our sixth game in 18 days, with a lot of travelling in between, so it has been a challenging period.”
Looking ahead, Barker indicated significant changes might be necessary to arrest the team’s decline. “There is a saying that you can’t keep doing the same things and expect different results,” he noted. “Right now, we have to find ways to do things differently, whether it’s our approach off the field, coaching sessions, selection of the team, or formations, we have to freshen things up.”
The coach expressed confidence that Stellenbosch’s current league position does not reflect their true capabilities. “I know deep in my heart that this team does not belong where we are,” he said.
With two league matches remaining before the year’s end and CAF Confederation Cup commitments looming. Barker emphasised the need for immediate improvement whilst maintaining his belief in the squad’s fighting spirit.
“We are fighters and we will continue to fight, and hopefully before the turn of the year we will have had some positive results,” he concluded.
