Why Stellenbosch’s Steve Barker deserves to win PSL Coach of the Season accolade ahead of Mamelodi Sundowns’ Miguel Cardoso and Orlando Pirates’ Jose Riveiro

After a successful 2023/24 season, Stellenbosch was raided by big clubs and lost a handful of their key players. In the previous campaign, the Western Cape outfit lost big-name players such as Iqraam Rayners, Deano Van Rooyen, Jayden Adams, Antonio Van Wyk, Nhlanhla Mgaga, and Qobolwakhe Sibande.

Many coaches would have balked at such a significant loss of talent, but not Steve Barker.

The club signed Lehlohonolo Mojela, Sanele Barns, Chumani Butsaka, Ashley Cupido, Omega Mdaka, Brian Onyango, Enyinnaya Kazie Godswill and Khomotjo Lekoloane to replace the departed stars and the 57-year-old quickly turned his new acquisitions into suitable replacements for the players he lost, pointing to his ability to coach players on the training ground.

This was the club's debut season in Caf competition and Steve Barker managed the demands of travelling across the African continent while maintaining their impressive form in the league.

Historically, South African teams have struggled to compete in the Caf tournaments, especially in their debut season, and it has had a catastrophic impact on their domestic form due to the cost of Caf competition, the traveling, the extra games in a season, the load on the players fitness, increased injuries... the list is endless.

In the 2022/23 season, Marumo Gallants made it to the semi-final of the Confederation Cup before getting relegated in the same season, with their chairman Abram Sello claiming it cost the club somewhere in the region of R18-million to compete in Africa.

Barker also took his club to the semi-final stage, but back in South Africa, he maintained Stellies' performance levels in both the domestic cup competitions and the league while doing so.

After the consistent run of form in the league, Stellenbosch finished third on the log behind title winners Mamelodi Sundowns and runners-up Orlando Pirates.

At the tail end of the season, they put together a run of five games without defeat, while competing in the semi-finals of continental competition, to beat an impressive Sekhukhune side to the Caf Confederation Cup qualification prize.

As a result, the Maroons will participate in the competition again next season alongside another PSL club, Kaizer Chiefs. The Glamour Boys qualified after winning the Nedbank Cup against arch-rival Orlando Pirates.

Having proven his ability to manage his squad throughout the campaign, Steve Barker defied the odds with a relatively thin squad compared to Sundowns, Pirates, Chiefs and Sekhukhune.

The Lesotho-born South African coach has been grooming players who go on to become household names in the PSL. Barker gave a platform to Iqraam Rayners and Jayden Adams, and they have already won their first league trophy after leaving to join South African powerhouses Mamelodi Sundowns. The duo also has a chance to clinch the Caf Champions League this coming weekend when they face Pyramids FC in the second-leg of the final at the 30 June Stadium in Egypt.

Meanwhile, Stellenbosch goalkeeper Sage Stephens has been a regular feature in Hugo Broos' Bafana Bafana squad in recent times following his great performances between the sticks for his club.

On the other hand, the talented midfielder Sihle Nduli is expected to join Pirates ahead of the new season, while Fawaaz Basadien is likely to make a big switch to Gauteng. The Bafana Bafana left-back recently won the Player of the Season award at the end-of-season award ceremony for Stellenbosch.

Don't bet against Barker coaching more players from obscurity to stardom next season.

With Stellenbosch set to lose more key players in the off-season, Barker will need to prove his coaching abilities and eye for talent yet again next season. The coach has mastered the art of improving any player on his team to build a formidable side that can compete.

In preparation for the upcoming season, the 2025 Caf Confederation Cup semi-finalists have already signed Cape Town Spurs rising star Siviwe Nkwali and Hungry Lions FC striker Muzomuhle Khanyi. The goal-poacher scored 18 goals in the NFD for the Northern Cape side.

And this early transfer business is another side of Barker's coaching credentials. He knows what he needs, he goes and gets it, and then he turns those players into exactly what his club needs.

Given this on top of everything else he has achieved with the Winelands club this season, how can you vote for anybody else to receive the PSL's top accolade for coaches?

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