STELLENBOSCH FC have left no stone unturned ahead of their first-ever Caf Confederation Cup quarter-final first-leg clash against Egyptian giants Zamalek at Cape Town Stadium at 3pm on Wednesday by tapping into former Al Ahly coach Pitso Mosimane.
Stellies have enjoyed a kwaai maiden voyage into African football by reaching the last eight, but now face one of the continent’s greatest teams with Zamalek the current Confederation Cup champions.
Mosimane, who is widely regarded as South Africa’s best ever club coach due to his success on the African continent, particularly in Egypt where he led Al Ahly to a Champions League title and Super Cup triumphs.
The former Mamelodi Sundowns and Bafana Bafana mentor caused great misery for Zamalek’s supporters whilst in Egypt, having held the upper hand in many domestic encounters.
Stellenbosch FC coach Steve Barker could not let the opportunity go to waste when Mosimane visited the Winelands region recently.
Barker says: “Yes, it was nice to have Pitso Mosimane. It would have been not wise of us, him being in Stellenbosch, not to use the expertise and knowledge that he has.
“Obviously, having coached in Egypt and having played a number of times against Zamalek, I think according to him it was eight matches and he hadn't lost against them.
“So, it was nice to just hear from him, the mentality, the emotional engagement that the players have. Just giving us a little bit of input when he was at Sundowns, how they approach these types of games.
“To have that experience, as one of the Champions League and played against Zamalek on a number of occasions. It was really good for us to hear as coaches and also for the players, also to get some insight from him. It was really good.”
Barker’s side are fresh off a disappointing Premiership defeat to Magesi FC over the weekend, but the experienced coach believes his manne are ready for easily the biggest game in the club’s history.
He adds: “I believe it’s a momentous occasion for us as a football club. It’s not an April Fools’ joke, we're here. So yeah, we’re looking forward to it, we know the challenges that lie ahead, but at the same time I believe we’ve earned the right to be here and we’ve deserved this opportunity.”