How Stellenbosch's Steve Barker outsmarted Zamalek's great Jose Peseiro

When Stellenbosch FC were drawn against Egyptian giants Zamalek in their first-ever CAF Confederation Cup quarterfinal it immediately set in motion the “David vs Goliath” match-up. 

In the maroon corner was Stellies. A team still in diapers finding its way in the local Betway Premiership with a single Carling Cup trophy on its honours board.

At the other end in white and red corner were the Kings of Africa who had been previously crowned five-times CAF Champions League winners and the current holders of the CAF Confederation Cup. 

Legacy is not the only chasm between the sides. Despite hailing from the picturesque winelands in the Western Cape, Stellenbosch have been the gypsies of the continental competition being forced to play their home matches all around South Africa in Pretoria and Durban which has impacted their ability to build a consistent fan base. 

Zamalek, meanwhile, have a group of fanatical “Ultra White Knights” who create a cauldron in Cairo whilst also travelling across the continent in support of their team.

These would surely have been intimidating not only for the Stellenbosch FC players ahead of their first-leg quarterfinal tie at DHL Stadium. However, Steve Barker’s charges delivered a composed performance to keep a clean sheet in the goalless draw that has set up an intriguing second leg tie in Cairo next week.

The critical takeaway from the first-leg was Barker’s ability to not only match his illustrious counterpart Jose Peseiro’s tactics, but actually outmanoeuvre the more experienced Portuguese mentor who has been at clubs of the magnitude such as Real Madrid, FC Porto, Pananthinakos and national teams such as Saudi Arabia and Nigeria.

Barker admitted that often the focus is squarely on the players on how they are going to front up against high quality opposition, but that facing coaches of the Peseiro is equally daunting.

“Yeah, sometimes it's my own downfall, but I'm an honest person,” Barker said.

“I told the players, obviously you're coming up against Egyptian national team players, Zizou, who recently played for Egypt. They're real quality, probably one of the best players in the Egyptian league and you can name a whole lot of others, five national team players, Taziri, Tunisia National. So, you know, I said it, you've got to respect what they are and what they're doing.

“But when I look at the coach's CV, you know, he's got an impressive CV, having been able to coach at Real, Porto and Nigeria national team. So, besides it being a challenge for the players, it's also a challenge for us. 

“I just believe in what we do and now it's like we know what we know.”

Barker and Peseiro could not be more different in their approaches to the beautiful game. 

The 57-year-old, who affectionately has been better known to be the cousin of the late former Bafana Bafana coach Clive Barker, has a pragmatic approach to the game and is content to absorb the opposition’s pressure before striking back on the counter-attack.

Peseiro openly admits “I am a coach that likes to attack” and be in control of possession. 

Stellies, though, starved Zamalek of the ball, especially in the first half, which caused Peseiro to applaud his counterpart’s shrewdness. 

“I think our team likes more to control the ball position, control more the game, the ball position. Today we could not win in the first half indeed. I think now with the same quality like this team can do, only in the last 15 minutes, 20 minutes, we could win more,” Peseiro said.

“I give value for Stellenbosch. Even Stellenbosch in the second half, the first 15 minutes, I think my team lost control of the game. Even in the defensive process, Stellenbosch did well. They had good triangles, good dynamics inside and outside the game. When I say my team must improve, I don't say Stellenbosch didn't play well. Stellenbosch, I think, did a good game.” 

Barker did not abandon his counter-attacking tactics altogether though and pushed speedy striker Ashley Cupido upfront to keep hassling the Zamalek defenders.

“I think the North African teams just don't like speed. They don't like being turned. They don't like having to face their own goal when defending and play in front of them a lot. It's a lot easier for them. So, I think Ashley gave us that outlet,” he added.

With the first-leg done and dusted, Barker will certainly be taking his new learnings to Cairo next week where he and Stellies will be hoping to make history.