Steve Barker cut a proud figure after his 10-man Stellenbosch FC side earned a valiant point at home against Orlando Pirates on Tuesday.

Stellenbosch welcomed Orlando Pirates to Athlone Stadium in Cape Town on Tuesday evening for a battle between the second and third-placed teams in the current 2024-25 Betway Premiership standings.

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Controversially eliminated from the Nedbank Cup over the weekend, Stellies were looking to bounce back with a strong performance against the Buccaneers but were dealt an early blow after defender Brian Onyango was sent off in the first half.

Despite the numerical disadvantage, however, the team from the Cape Winelands were resolute in their defence and managed to restrict the away team to a goalless draw, leaving coach Steve Barker with much to be proud of.

“The one thing I sometimes do when I get home after we’ve drawn a game is that I’m a little bit down, and my family always say ‘Well at least you didn’t lose’ and I always say ‘Yes, but we lost two points’ but today was a different story,” Barker said.

“I think it was a point gained considering the circumstances of playing with 10 men for as long as we had to, so I think it’s a really good point for us against a really good team.

“It keeps us on our mini-unbeaten run which has now gone to six in the league, including three wins and three draws. I always tell the players that to be in the top three—which is our ambition—we have to go on those sorts of runs.

“Coming away with at least a point today was a moral victory and felt like a victory.”

He added, “Sometimes you win games by four or five goals to nil by playing really good football and you’re proud of your team, but tonight I was proud in a different way.

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“Just the resilience, commitment, and attitude that the players showed—if you can do that over a long period of time you will enjoy more success than not.”