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Stellenbosch FC head coach Steve Barker admitted having full access to Orlando Pirates pre-season in Spain helped them prepare for their 1-0 win at Danie Craven.
Pirates came into the game brimming with confidence after a sensational pre-season in which they were free-scoring and unbeaten since February when they last tasted defeat in the Soweto Derby against Kaizer Chiefs.
But a stubborn Stellenbosch managed to surprise them on Saturday evening as Antonio van Wyk’s first-half goals secured a memorable win on their 2023/24 DStv Premiership opener.
“Yes it definitely did help [having access to their pre-season games], I don’t think they had the same [advantage] on us, but yeah, we did our analysis on them,” Barker said when asked by iDiski Times about their preparation for the game.
“You know what they like to do is get their full-backs high, tuck in [Monnapule] Saleng and Patrick [Maswanganyi], and [Fortune] Makaringe… we thought maybe it would be [Kabelo] Dlamini or [Ndabayithethwa] Ndlondlo in that [role].
“But it was Makaringe, so then they almost play with three 10s and [Zakhele] Lepasa upfront. So the plan was just to block that middle pass and once it went out wide, shuffle and deny them.
“If you look at the amount of possession they had, a team like Pirates, they obviously hit the post, a great tackle at the end there by [Ismaël] Toure but besides that… did Sage [Stephens] have a lot to do? I don’t think so.
“We didn’t test their keeper much either but in these games, one chance, one opportunity, you take it and it’s enough.”
Pirates host Royal AM on Tuesday at Orlando Stadium at 19h30, while Stellies travel to face Polokwane City at the Old Peter Mokaba Stadium the following day.