Steve Barker and his Stellenbosch FC side could finally be cracking under the massive workload and the loss of key players to the big spenders. Stellies will make the long trip to the Mpumalanga Province to take on a wounded TS Galaxy side in the Betway Premiership clash at the Mbombela Stadium today (7.30pm kick-off).

The Cape Winelands outfit hasn’t had the best of outings of late, and unlike the side they were last season, they are currently lingering in a lonely ninth place, one point away from the top eight.

Another hard day of work in the books ✅#iamCityFC | #BetwayPrem pic.twitter.com/gYZTIvy4Mq
— Cape Town City FC (@CapeTownCityFC) February 16, 2025

Barker and his troops have had to juggle between continental football and also keep up with their league aspirations, and even though they still have three games in hand over those above them, they have found it harder to balance the requirements of the two competitions this season than they have previously.

They can take a lot of confidence, though, from their second-place finish in the CAF Confederation Cup, as they booked their place in the next round despite running into a lot of challenges on and off the field throughout the group stages.

But as the club continues to make some good returns on their investments in terms of the talent they have produced over the years, Barker, as he has often had to do before, will have to find a way to get them back to the top without some of his influential players.

The loss to Jayden Adams has compounded Stellenbosch’s problems regarding player resources. | BackpagePix

The void left by the likes of Iqraam Rayners in the last window has been widened by the loss of Jayden Adams to their direct rivals Mamelodi Sundowns in the January window.

And while they have in previous times managed to recover from such losses through the brilliance of Barker and their planning, their recent loss could turn out to be bigger in the long run with them still in contention for three titles.

There will be a pressing need for a result against a Rockets side that will also be out to correct their wrongs after their shock Nedbank Cup last-16 exit against Durban City on Saturday.

Five points separate the two sides, and despite their slow start to the season, Stellies can still make ground with their games in hand, and they could be in line to hand Adnan Beganovic his second consecutive loss with his side having taken a huge confidence knock on the weekend.

Cape Town City coach Muhsin Ertugral. Photo: Ayanda Ndamane Independent Media

Elsewhere, Cape Town City needs a result against fellow strugglers Chippa United to keep within touching distance of the top eight positions. The Citizens will meet the Chilli Boys in the Betway Premiership at the Athlone Stadium also today at (7.30pm kick-off).

The Cape side have had their early momentum and confidence knocked over, and they have been showing a lot of signs of a side they had just thought they had gotten rid of with the appointment of Muhsin Ertugral. Both sides have identical records in their last five outings, and it will come as no surprise that they will both be gunning for maximum points on the night.

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