Stellenbosch FC prepare for 'one of the biggest games in the club's history' against Zamalek

For Stellenbosch FC to have come as far as this so quickly is staggering. 

Coach Steve Barker even felt the need to remind everyone that “We are here. It’s not an April Fool’s joke!”

It certainly is pinch me, wake up, everybody’s dreaming territory for the country’s footballing Cinderella as they head into a first-ever CAF Confederation Cup first-leg quarter-final tie against Egyptians giants Zamalek at the DHL Stadium in Cape Town today. 

The second leg will be held in Cairo on April 9. 

“Playing on the continent, I think, is a different level. To be playing a team such as Zamalek who are the defending champions, who've won the Champions League five times, it becomes a massive game for us. I don't think we'd be wrong in saying that this is one of the biggest games that the club is involved in.”

The contrast between the two clubs could not be any larger. Stellies have only been in South Africa’s top-flight for the past six years, with a solitary Carling Cup triumph on their honours roll, while Zamalek are one of the most storied clubs on the African continent. 

The Egyptians’ pedigree is undoubted, being the current CAF Confederation Cup and CAF Super Cup holders, having lost just one of their last 21 Confederation Cup matches, and previously five-times CAF Champions League winners. 

It is a record that should send shivers down the spines of the men in maroon, but fortunately football is not played on paper and in the history books. Equally, Stellenbosch have shown countless times over the last few years that the bigger the opposition are, the harder they fall, as they continue on this amazing journey of theirs. 

“Yes, we're privileged to be in this position. But at the same time, I keep wanting to remind everyone that I think we've earned the right to be on the same park as a team as Zamalek,” Barker said.

“A lot of people may believe we don't have an opportunity, but our team is built on resilience. It's built on the ability to overcome challenges. And we are looking forward to this challenge.”

Having seen some his stalwarts depart due to the success achieved over the past couple of years, Barker will rely on his experienced core such as captain and goalkeeper Sage Stephens, Bafana Bafana wingback Fawaaz Basadien, defender Thabo Moloisane and former New Zealand international Andre de Jong to try and contain Zamalek stars such as Ahmed “Zizo” Sayed and captain Omar Gaber.

“We're aware of some of the key players. Zizo, for example, is probably one of the best players in the Egyptian league. He's a prominent figure for the national team,” Barker said. 

“He plays for them and has recently scored for them. He's an international player of great quality. I don't think teams such as Zamalek, with the ambitions they have as a football club, don't have quality in most of the positions.

“I think it's important that we've done our analysis as well as we can. We know their dangers. As you rightly say, they are two of their danger players. We obviously have to be on high alert. Hopefully, we can deal with the ability that they have.”

Barker has an ace up his sleeve though as he consulted with former Al Ahly and Mamelodi Sundowns coach Pitso Mosimane last week in Stellenbosch. Mosimane was, of course, hugely successful during his time in the Egyptian League when he guided Al Ahly to numerous victories over their great rivals Zamalek. 

Zamalek coach José Peseiro is, therefore, not taking anything granted in today’s first-leg quarterfinal against the unfancied Western Cape club. 

“It's a good team … very good character, very good character. Congratulations for the coach. They fight, they fight, they fight,” Peseiro said.

“I think Stellenbosch is one team that has grown up a lot in the last years; showed good quality, good organisation, good capacity, good coach, good players. They show good character on the pitch, character of the fighter. Sure they believe they can go all the way, like us.

“Everybody says it's better to play away first than to play at home. I think it's the same … But away or home, we need to (win). Everybody prefers to play the second match at home. We need to (get) a good result in the first match,” he added.