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Cape Town — Stellenbosch FC is hoping that the excitement of a neighborhood match will give them the boost they need to salvage their struggling season.
At the Danie Craven Stadium in the Winelands, Stellenbosch will play host to crosstown rival Cape Town City on Friday (7.30pm kickoff).
The season has been a complete disaster for Stellenbosch, and they are at their lowest point. They had gone four months without a victory.
This season, the squad has won just three of their 18 Premiership games. They need to win the game badly in order to save a terrible season.
In the past nine league games, Stellenbosch has gone winless. They hadn’t won since October of last year, and two weeks ago, they lost 4-1 to the resurgent Orlando Pirates in Soweto.
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Their seasoned coach Steve Barker has not been able to arrest the fall from grace, but he remains hopeful his team will emerge from their slump.
“Clubs do go through these slumps. We’ve had a tough period in our second season. It was second-season syndrome, or whatever the case was,” said Barker.
“If you look at the results, besides the Orlando Pirates game, the matches before that were very tight and very close. So it’s about us as a football club, just getting that 5-10% out of every single individual in the club, from the chief executive down to the kit manager.”
Derby history is on Stellenbosch’s side, as they are unbeaten in their last three games against City. Stellenbosch have won three and drawn one of their last four derby encounters.
“There is no better game than one at home in a derby at the Danie Craven Stadium on a Friday evening for us to turn things around,” said Barker.
“We have traditionally done very well against Cape Town City and I am expecting a massive game and trusting that we can get a win.”
City coach Eric Tinkler revealed that the team have been boosted by the return of their sharpshooter Khanyisa Mayo from injury.
“Khanyisa is back in training and came through it with no issues,” said Tinkler.
Argentine Junior Mendieta will return to action for Stellenbosch. Mendieta, who has contributed four assists and five goals so far this year, has what it takes to lead Stellenbosch to victory versus City.
Mervin Boji, a rookie striker, might start the derby after scoring his first goal against Pirates after coming off the bench.
Taariq Fielies, a Bafana Bafana international and motivational defender, will be the focus of City’s ambitions. He not only put on a strong defensive performance against TS Galaxy, but he also provided the goal that gave City the victory last week. When Fielies plays Stellenbosch, he’ll try to maintain the same form.
With four goals and a share of the league’s most assists, Venezuelan striker Darwin Gonzale is undoubtedly City’s greatest forward so far this season (two). He may give City the winning edge in Stellenbosch.
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