Stellenbosch FC head coach Steve Barker has revealed four handicaps they had prior to facing Mamelodi Sundowns in their latest Betway Premiership fixture, including an embargo by the PSL.
Stellenbosch played their part in Sundowns eventually parting ways with Manqoba Mngqithi as head coach, after knocking them out of the MTN8 at the semi-finals stage, with back-to-back 1-0 wins over two legs.
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There were expectations for the side to be a thorn in the flesh of the Tshwane giants under new mentor Miguel Cardoso.
However, the hosts only came to life in the second half after going into the break 1-0 down from a goal by their former star Iqraam Rayners and lacked a little bit more quality to rescue the game.
Barker has revealed that not playing in their own stadium, Danie Craven, after the PSL declared it not good enough yet due to issues with the pitch, played its part.
He also bemoaned travels in Africa, after they arrived back in the Winelands from Angola only on Monday, following their first CAF Confederation Cup group stage win over Desportivo Lunda Sul.
"It doesn't make it easy. It is sort of our first campaign in Africa, we only arrived on Monday. We would have liked to play at our home stadium Danie Craven, which we wanted to play this game [at], but unfortunately the League said the pitch is not in the state it should be," Barker told reporters after the game at DHL Cape Town Stadium.
"So, it becomes very frustrating having to play these amount games. People say it's in Cape Town, but you have to have team meetings, travel. It's two, three hours that is taken out of the day.
"And one of the players you had, reignited his career, to get into Bafana squad, to get a move he desired, at a club like Sundowns, scores a quality goal like he did, it does leave a bitter taste," he added.
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The former University of Pretoria coach also admitted that the unavailability of Lehlohonolo Mojela, who scored the decisive goal in the MTN8 semi-final second leg, made them thin up front.
"Again, we're lacking a little bit with [the] Mojela setback, injury, so it's difficult for Ashley [Cupido] to play week in and week out."