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Stellenbosch Football Club

Barker: We decided to be better, not bitter

Football 2024 Carling Knockout Cup Amazulu V Stellenbosch King Zwelithini Stadium Durban

Stellenbosch FC head coach Steve Barker has praised his side’s resilience after bouncing back from an MTN8 final defeat to claim victory over AmaZulu in Friday’s Carling Knockout Round 16 encounter.

Reigning Carling Knockout champions Stellenbosch FC advanced to the quarter-final of the 2024 edition of the competition after recording a 2-1 win (after extra-time) over AmaZulu at King Zwelithini Stadium in Umlazi on Friday evening.

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Devin Titus, who was named Player of the Tournament last season, and Andre de Jong were on the scoresheet for the Maroons as they bounced back from a heartbreaking defeat to Orlando Pirates in the MTN8 final earlier this month.

“It is something that [hurts] but there are two reactions you can have; you can either decide to be bitter or you can decide to be better,” Barker said after the match “There’s only one letter difference and we’ve decided to be better and move on.

“You can’t change what happened, it’s history and it has passed, so the next important thing is the following match which was this one…”

He added, “When you have to endure difficult times, it grows you as a team and gives you unity, endurance, and grit which I believe we are showing.  We are showing that we have the resilience to get over disappointments and look forward.”

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The draw for the quarter-final stage of the Carling Knockout is set to take place on Sunday, 20 October, 2024, following the conclusion of the day’s final two last-sixteen encounters.

Meanwhile, Stellenbosch are set to travel to Gqeberha for a Betwaty Premiership encounter against Chippa United on Wednesday, before returning to Durban for a league clash against Richards Bay next Saturday.