Stellenbosch FC head coach Steve Barker and goalkeeper Sage Stephens addressed the media in Durban ahead of the club’s first-ever CAF Confederation Cup campaign.

Stellenbosch FC will take on Eswatini’s Nsingizini Hotspurs on Saturday when the two teams go head-to-head at Moses Mabhida Stadium in the First Preliminary Round first-leg encounter.

Speaking ahead of the tie, which is being held in Durban due to the absence of a CAF-accredited stadium in Eswatini, Stellies’ head coach Steve Barker highlighted several similarities between the two sides.

“It’s remarkable how both football clubs have followed a similar trajectory and path,” Barker told the media during Friday’s pre-match press conference.

“As most of you know, Stellenbosch has not existed for very long but part of the idea behind the purchasing of the club was to provide opportunities to players in the greater Winelands region, where there had never been a professional football team before.

“We’ve had quite a meteoric rise with this being only our sixth season in the PSL [South African top-flight] and we’ve already qualified [for continental football] after ending in third position last season.

“Looking at our opponents, it’s very similar. They’re a club established in the village of Nsingizini to provide opportunities for youth within the Shiselweni region.

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“They’ve also had a strong rise with their good performances, which has given them the opportunity to participate as we are, having both finished in third position domestically to represent our countries in this club competition.

“I think there are a lot of similarities and both clubs have really done well over the last season. We are expecting a tough game against a team that I can see has a lot of ambition.

“They’ve invested in their squad and improved their squad so they will be a difficult opponent, but, in saying that, we’ve also prepared really well.

“It’s always been a dream of ours to play football on the continent and that dream has come to fruition. Having worked as hard as we have, and earned the recognition of a good season by getting to play in CAF, it’s our responsibility to reward ourselves for that effort that was put in.

“We have to make sure we do everything in our power to advance as far as we can in this competition…”

Coach Steve Barker previously spoke to the club ahead of Saturday’s encounter. You can watch the mini-interview in the video below.

The coach also revealed that Stellenbosch had done their research on their opponents, who have made Durban their base for the duration of their CAF Confederation Cup campaign.

“We do have a bit of information on our opponents,” Barker “continued. “They’ve been in Durban, where they played Royal AM and Maritzburg United, and fortunately we were able to get some footage.

“Based on that, you can see that they are a good team with some very good individual players in their squad. From last season, they are a team that looks difficult to beat – they only lost two matches in the whole league season.

“That said, we are also well prepared and have a high desire to ensure we get through to the next preliminary round…”

Regarding the use of Moses Mabhida Stadium by both clubs, he added, “I think it’s unfortunate for both clubs that we aren’t able to play our home games at home. We would have loved to have visited and played in Eswatini, so I understand their disappointment.

“We have the same disappointment because next week we have to host the return leg back here because of the unavailability or poor state of pitches in the Western Cape.

“Yes, it is a bit disappointing that we have to play here in Durban, but it’s nice here we’re looking forward to it. It’s a stadium where we enjoyed our last success by winning the Carling Knockout here.

“We’ve had good results and it’s a happy place for us in Durban, the people are nice and the weather is good, so we enjoy traveling and we enjoy playing here.

“They’ve also played here recently so I don’t see it as having an advantage for either side, because it’s almost like it is a neutral venue. I just feel for our opponents because they have to play their home game outside of their country.”

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Notwithstanding the challenges faced, Stellenbosch FC goalkeeper Sage Stephens revealed that the mood was exceedingly positive in camp ahead of the club’s first-ever continental campaign.

“We’re very excited,” Stephens said. “This is a great opportunity for the club and as the coach said, this is something that we have worked towards for a long time now.

“It’s now just been one season coming, it’s always been a goal of ours to play here [in the CAF Confederation Cup] and in the Champions League, and we are finally here.

“As the players, we are very excited. There was a buzz in the bus on the drive over and for a lot of the players this will be their first time playing in this competition, so we want to give it our all and do the job tomorrow.”

The veteran shot-stopper is expected to assume a greater leadership role on Saturday following the departure of on-field captain Deano van Rooyen to Orlando Pirates earlier in the week, and he believes he is up for the challenge with the support of the club’s other leaders around him.

“There are quite a few leaders in the team, it’s not just one specific person,” Stephens added.

“From Lee [Langeveldt] to Deano who has just left, to Fawaaz [Basadien], there are a lot of leaders in the team that we can count on on any given day. We have enough strong leaders in the team to carry the ship forward.

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“It’s a big loss for us to lose Deano because he’s a fantastic human being and player but he did well for the club, served us well, and was a great captain to serve under. A lot can be learned from him. He was a silent captain but he led by example on the field and a lot of people can take a few pages out of his book.

“Lee remains our club captain but if I’m called to lead the team on the field on the day, then I will always give my best in that regard.”