Steve Barker eyes Carling Cup revenge over Marumo Gallants | OneFootball

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Barker keen to avenge last season's cup defeat to Gallants

Photo: Stellenbosch

Stellenbosch FC head coach Steve Barker is eager to avenge his team's Carling Knockout Cup defeat to Marumo Gallants in the quarterfinals last season.

The Cape Winelands outfit was sent packing in the same stage of the competition by the Bloemfontein-based side after falling to a narrow defeat. As a result, Stellies failed to defend their title.

Now, the 57-year-old tactician has set sights on settling the score against Gallants as he aims to return the League Cup to the mother city after lifting the trophy in December 2023.

“We're looking forward to playing in another quarterfinal. It feels like a bit of deja vu because last season we also met Marumo Gallants at this stage of the competition away from home. Unfortunately we fell at that hurdle, so we're determined not to fail this time around,” Barker told the club's media.

"Our first major trophy at the highest level came after winning the Carling Knockout, and that is still fresh in our memories, and we'd like to emulate that.

While he is looking to pip Gallants to a semi-final berth, Barker acknowledges that securing a favorable result on the road won't be a walk in the park.

“We are coming up against a very good team, away from home, but if you want to get into finals and win trophies, you have to beat all of the opposition that come before you. This is an opportunity for us to rectify last season's loss against them and get ourselves into the last four,” he added.

"Preparations have gone really well, and we're coming off two good results in our last two matches, so the enthusiasm, confidence, and belief within the team has risen and is where it should be again.

The two sides will lock horns at the Dr. Molemela Stadium on Wednesday (19h00), with the winner set to join Orlando Pirates, Golden Arrows and Richards Bay in the last-four.