The Stellies are set to make history by playing in their first ever continental competition.
Premier Soccer League side Stellenbosch will be making their Caf Confederation Cup appearance this season after finishing third in the league last season.
The Steve Barker-led side have been scheduled to play Nsingizi Hotspur from Eswatini on Saturday at the Moses Mabhida Stadium.
Stellies were unlucky not to finish behind champions Mamelodi Sundowns, but the tactician is delighted to have managed to get the opportunity to play in the second-tier competition.
How does Barker feel playing in Caf Confederation Cup?
“I am extremely excited, not only personally but also the whole football club, the players, and everybody involved,” Barker said as quoted by the club's media team.
“You know you want to be competing in the continent, you want to expose yourself to different teams.
“You want to be competing at that level, so we have worked hard to get ourselves in this position. We always dreamed of one day playing on the continent and that day has arrived. Massive excitement, you know a lot of buzz around the club looking forward to that first game ever in Africa.
“It's nice that we have played at Moses Mabhida Stadium, we know Durban well. We know the stadium well, so that does in a sense help us but you know the opposition have also worked hard,” he continued.
What should Stellies expect from Nsingizi?
“Looking at their position, the way they played last season they are not an easy team to beat,” Barker stated.
“They conceded some of the fewest goals in the league and we've got a few footage of their friendlies that they have played but it's never easy when you don't see them play regularly.
“It's going to be more about us executing our game plan and doing what we do well. It's not going to be easy, everybody wants to advance in those continental competitions. So we can't be complacent, we've got to make sure that we leave no stone unturned in our preparation for Saturday.”
By making it to the competition, Stellies are R900,000 richer.
