Stellenbosch FC head coach Steve Barker is taking nothing for granted ahead of his side’s clash against CAF Confederation Cup newcomers Singida Black Stars.

Stellenbosch have traveled to Zanzibar in Tanzania where they are set to take on Tanzanian Premier League side Singida Black Stars in a CAF Confederation Cup Group C encounter on Sunday evening.

The Black Stars, who suffered a 2-0 defeat to CR Belouizdad in their opening match, are taking part in the Group Stage of the competition for the first time in their history, but still pose a threat, according to Stellies head coach, Steve Barker.

“One must also not forget that it was our first season last season as well, so we’re still quite new to playing in CAF ourselves, but the experience playing against teams like Simba and Zamalek last season helped us learn a lot in a short space of time,” he said.

“I’d like to congratulate Singida for making it to this stage. Any team that gets to the group stage deserves to be there because they would have had to have done well in their league and in the qualifying stages.

“They will be a good team, and looking at them, they have some good individual players from all around the continent, so they will definitely have their strengths.

“When it’s your first time, it’s very exciting, and I’m sure they’re excited to play a CAF game at home and will be really up for it. It will be important for us to match and even better that desire to get a positive result, and we’ll have to play to the best of our abilities to get that against them.”

The team from the Cape Winelands head into Sunday’s match on the back of a 1-0 win over Congo’s AS Otoho in their opening match last season, and will be looking to maintain that momentum away from home.

“It’s early in the group stages, but last week we got a win at home and it’s always important to win your home matches,” Barker added.

“The game on Sunday becomes important for us to keep that momentum. To follow that win up with a positive result away from home would set us up firmly for the remainder of the group stage.

“But, we are aware that all teams that have reached the group stage are not easy to play against, especially away from home, so we anticipate a challenging match. We’ve prepared well and we’re ready to showcase our abilities as a team.”