Steve Barker has labeled the upcoming Carling Knockout Final as a special day in the history of Stellenbosch Football Club.

An historic day awaits Stellenbosch Football Club on Saturday afternoon when the club takes part in its first-ever cup final, coming up against TS Galaxy in the showpiece finale of the 2023 Carling Knockout competition.

Speaking at the media open day ahead of the encounter, head coach Steve Barker declared the day a special occasion for the club and highlighted his desire to go all the way and bring the trophy home to the people of Stellenbosch.

“It’s very special to be in the final of the Carling Knockout,” Barker said. “As a young club, it’s special not only for the players, but for the owners and management who have invested in the club, for the technical staff, the community of Stellenbosch, and for the town itself.

“It’s a very special occasion for everyone involved in Stellenbosch and hopefully we can go one step further and win the trophy. Getting into the final is one thing, but going on to win is obviously the aim on the weekend.

“It is a massive occasion and I think we can all be very proud of what we have achieved and what we are setting up to achieve, and hopefully Saturday can be a special moment with us lifting the trophy.”

“When asked about the importance and magnitude of the match, Barker added, “I think it is the biggest game in the club’s history.

“When we played in the National First Division we won the league on the last day of the season to get promoted, and that was one of the biggest days in the club’s history.

“There have been other special occasions like our first time in the MTN8 quarter-final against Kaizer Chiefs in front of a packed stadium, and the recent semi-final against Orlando Pirates.

“So, there have been some really special games but there have been none where we played on the day to win the trophy, and I think that makes this a very special occasion and a very special match for the club.”

Stellenbosch overcame the challenge of Chippa United, Polokwane City, and Richards Bay to reach the final, where they face tough opposition in the form of the Rockets.

“TS Galaxy are traditionally a difficult team to break down,” Barker added. “They have shown in the past that they have the ability to keep clean sheets and be a tough nut to crack, they are well organised defensively.

“The last time we played them we had a good result, but I recall their coach saying that they made a mistake and that they won’t be playing against us like they did that night. So, it is a cup final and I’m sure they will want to start the game really positively but it’s going to be a situation where we’re going to have to play to our strengths and we know what they are.

“They have also improved in terms of their attacking force. Higor Vidal, their number 10 is a really smart player, and Kamogelo Sebelebele and Lindokuhle Mbatha, if he starts, are also clever and tricky players to deal with.

“Galaxy will be good on transition and they have the striker up front with good energy and pace, so I do anticipate that they will be solid and compact and look to play that way on transition.

“But we have to plan for all situations. They are a team that also likes to keep the ball and build up, so there are a couple of pieces that we need to plan for and be ready for, but that’s only the one side to it.

“The second part is making sure that we play the way we feel we need to play and not be reactive, but rather proactive. It is a final so we have to be positive and approach it with a positive mindset that we want to be the ones who are forcing the pace, etc.”

The 2023 Carling Knockout final is set to take place on Saturday, 16 December 2023 at 15h00, and will be played at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban. Tickets are available at a cost of R40.00 per person from TicketPro outlets.