BIG THINGS BREWING

STELLENBOSCH FC coach Steve Barker is expecting “big things” from Sanele Barns in the upcoming Premiership season.

After finishing strongly last season with three goals in the last five matches, the Bafana Bafana midfielder struck the sweet notes from the outset with a well-taken brace to help Stellies overcome AmaZulu 3-2 after extra time in their MTN8 quarter-final at Cape Town Stadium on Sunday.

It was Barnes’ third goal against Usuthu in two games after also scoring the winner in last season’s league clash at Danie Craven Stadium. 

Barker feels the former Richards Bay and TS Galaxy midfielder is approaching the form he enjoyed prior to coming to Stellenbosch last season now that he has settled in at the Winelands club.

Barker wysed: “I think if you recall the season before he came to us, he was nominated as one of the midfielders of the season, so now having a season [at Stellies], I do believe that he would have settled in, and I’m expecting some really big things from Sanele.

“I believe that he’s going to have a big impact for us, as he did today [Sunday].”

Barns’ first goal was a tap-in from close range, but his second was a jitz free-kick that rifled into the AmaZulu net from 30 metres out.

But despite his individual brilliance on the day, the Stellies ace preferred to focus on the team’s collective after reaching their third consecutive MTN8 semi-final. 

Barns said: “Firstly, I would like to thank my teammates, the coaching staff and everyone.

“Obviously, it was a tough match, but we had to dig deep, to come back and win the game.

“We conceded two goals, but I think our defence did a very good job, after they scored their last goal.”

Stellies will host Sekhukhune United in their first-leg semi-final in Cape Town next Saturday.