
Steve Barker: Photo Credit: Stellenbosch FC Facebook page.
Stellenbosch FC coach Steve Barker has said it is difficult for them to accept their 5-0 loss to RSB Berkane in the CAF Confederation Cup Group B final match on Sunday, but it was a necessary learning curve.
In a post-match interview in Morocco, Barker said the quality and experience of the hosts proved too much for his South African side to handle.
“It is not easy to accept a 5-0 loss but I told the team and the players that these types of games are a learning curve,” he said. “As you all know, it is our first time playing in the Confederation Cup, in North Africa, and against a quality team like Berkane. One has to learn, grow, and improve from this.”
Barker said his side was punished due to inexperience but vowed to bounce back stronger.
“We can see the quality of Berkane. We gave the ball away in our defensive third and they were very clinical and that is why they are on top of the domestic league and the group. It is a good team. Hopefully, we can continue to improve and if we play here again it won't be 5-0; it will be tighter.”
The debutante from South Africa went into Sunday’s match in Morocco buoyed by back-to-back wins over Angolans CD Lunda Sul. However, the Western Cape Town side was undone by an avalanche of goals from Oussama Lamlaoui, Youssef Mehri, Paul Bassene and Youssef Zghoudi.
Despite the defeat, the South Africans booked their place in the quarterfinals of the Confederation Cup after finishing second in the group with nine points, eight points behind the runaway leader, Berkane who also sailed through.
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