Stellenbosch's Steve Barker on meeting former Orlando Pirates coach Fadlu Davids in Caf Confederation Cup semi-final against Simba SC - 'We might as well go all the way to the final'

Steve Barker and Fadlu Davids will square off when Stellenbosch and Simba SC meet in the Caf Confederation Cup semi-finals.

The two have had previous encounters in the Premier Soccer League and will now meet on the continent.

Barker comments on the looming clash with his compatriot in a match that thrust into the spotlight the capabilities of South African coaches.

“It’s very nice to come up against Fadlu [Davids]. I played against him as a coach when he was coaching at Maritzburg United,” said Barker as per FARPost. 

“So, it is nice that there will be a South African coach in the final. I’m looking forward to that. We know Darian [Wilken], the assistant, very well. He is a good friend of my assistant, Wesley [Sergel]. So, it would be nice to see them. 

“I think this season I have shown over a long period of time that we have travelled a lot and we haven’t had time to deal with certain situations," added the Maroons coach.

"But I think we are well prepared, and we have come this far in this tournament as we always promised ourselves that if we get to the semi-finals, then we might as well go all the way to the finals.”

Having two South African coaches clashing in the last-four of a continental competition could be testimony of how the Premier Soccer League has been producing respected tacticians.

Also, having two PSL teams in the Caf Champions League semi-finals is a statement of how the local league has been strong.

This is despite Orlando Pirates and Mamelodi Sundowns being coached by a Spaniard and a Portuguese.

Stellenbosch are now preparing to visit Simba for the first leg of the Confederation Cup semi-final match on Sunday.

It is a match they would be hoping to grab an away goal to cushion themselves for the second leg at home.