Stellenbosch FC have played so often in Durban over the past few weeks that coach Steve Barker has even reacquainted himself with his local curry shop.
Barker, a KwaZulu-Natal native, has been back in his home province of late due to Stellies being forced to play at the Moses Mabhida Stadium while the Danie Craven Stadium undergoes a rehabilitation process after the rugby season.
Barker and Stellies will be back at the 2010 Fifa World Cup venue this weekend, though, when they face Orlando Pirates in the MTN8 final (6pm kick-off) as he certainly feels familiarity breeds success.
“Yeah, when I go back home, it’s a bunny chow from Ganey Road, Britannia Hotel,” Barker joked at the pre-final media conference at Stellenbosch’s Lentelus training ground yesterday.
“But seriously, I think we've played more at Moses Mabhida than at Danie Craven this season. It has become a nice place to go to.
“Obviously the comfortability of being in a final in Durban... the Carling (Knockout) Cup final was also in Durban.
“And then obviously this season we've played both the Confed games there, as well as Sundowns, and we had good success in all of them.
In three days, @StellenboschFC will be playing in their first-ever #MTN8 final.
— Official PSL (@OfficialPSL) October 2, 2024
Here’s how they reached the final 👇 pic.twitter.com/2y4Kd7VhCZ
“So, it does feel like a special place to go to. It’s been rewarding for us. The stay is very comfortable. We are comfortable with the surroundings off the field.”
Stellenbosch, of course, won their maiden top-flight trophy last season when they annexed the Carling Knockout Cup also at the Moses Mabhida Stadium.
But equally, Pirates have won successive MTN8 finals and are seeking a hat-trick of trophies in front of their KZN faithful.
“We also know that Pirates, it’s not a bad place for them either. They’ll have the majority of the support, as as one would expect,” Barker said.
“But yes, having played there recently, having had good success there recently, it does give us that element of sort of confidence going into that game.”
While Stellenbosch’s mantra has always been about the team’s objectives ahead of the individual, the MTN8 tournament does hold a special significance for Barker.
The 56-year-old won the competition, formerly known as the BP Top 8 as a player with the now-defunct Wits University back in 1995, and has had his sights on the lucrative tournament since becoming coach at Stellies.
“I wouldn’t say anxiousness, but there is a nervous excitement to be in a final of such a nature,” Barker said.
Hard at work during today's #MTN8Final open day 🏆 pic.twitter.com/3Lm5TH4EEW
— Stellenbosch FC (@StellenboschFC) October 2, 2024
“Lee (Langeveldt) sitting here next to me can testify when we got promoted many years back the first season in the PSL, I said ‘Guys, MTN8 is the one’ – knowing that if we can win the MTN8, we were in the top eight position the previous season.
“And it’s a trophy that I’ve always wanted to be involved in as a coach, because as a player, having won the BP Top 8 in 1995.
“It is a special type of trophy to win and to start off the season. Normally the MTN8 is after two, three games, but we’ve already played our 10th match.
“It obviously gives you the confidence for the rest of the season, good financial reward, trophy and medals for players. It’s always a good start to do well and win the MTN8.”
Stellenbosch certainly don’t fear the Soweto giants, having taken down the Buccaneers in three of their four contests last year.