SES VANNIE BESTES

STEVE Barker cut a proud figure after his 10-man Stellenbosch FC team earned a point at home against Orlando Pirates in a 0-0 draw in the Premiership at Athlone Stadium on Tuesday.

Controversially eliminated from the Nedbank Cup at the weekend, Stellies were looking to bounce back with a strong performance against the Buccaneers, but were dealt an early blow after defender Brian Onyango was sent off in the first half.

Despite the numerical disadvantage, however, the manne from the Cape Winelands were resolute in defence and managed to shut out the team second on the league standings, leaving coach Barker with much to be proud of as they extended their unbeaten run in the league to six matches.

Barker says: “The one thing I sometimes do when I get home after we’ve drawn a game is that I’m a little bit down, and my family always say ‘Well at least you didn’t lose’ and I always say ‘Yes, but we lost two points’ but today was a different story.

“I think it was a point gained considering the circumstances of playing with 10 men for as long as we had to, so I think it’s a really good point for us against a really good team.

“It keeps us on our mini-unbeaten run which has now gone to six in the league, including three wins and three draws. I always tell the players that to be in the top three - which is our ambition - we have to go on those sorts of runs.

“Coming away with at least a point today was a moral victory and felt like a victory.

“Sometimes you win games by four or five goals to nil by playing really good football and you’re proud of your team, but tonight I was proud in a different way.

“Just the resilience, commitment, and attitude that the players showed—if you can do that over a long period of time you will enjoy more success than not.”