Steve Barker Admits Orlando Pirates Were Better Than Them!

Steve Barker Admits Orlando Pirates Were Better Than Them! Stellies lost to The Buccaneers in heavy fashion this weekend.

Stellenbosch FC lost 4-1 to Orlando Pirates in the DSTV Premiership yesterday afternoon. Head coach Steve Barker did not blame his players for the loss, noting that the opposition was just better.

Orlando Pirates 4:1 Stellenbosch FC – DSTV Premiership

Goals came from Thabang Monare, Innocent Maela, Kermit Erasmus and Ndabayithethwa Ndlondlo for the hosts. The visitors grabbed a late consolation goal from Mervin Boji.

“Firstly, congratulations to Pirates, I thought today they showed their quality, and they showed their pedigree as a club. They took their goals well and I think the truth be told, we were outplayed today, we were outclassed today,” he told SuperSport TV.

“A tough day at the office, a lot of lessons to be learnt. But unfortunately, when you concede a set piece goal and then the second goal a little bit sloppy, 2-0 down against a team like Pirates, it makes it tough.

“We tried to be brave in the second half, made a couple of changes to the formation. Brought in two [strikers] up front to see if we could get anything out of it, so when you are chasing a game, you end up exposing yourself at the back.

“We were exposed in a lot of 1v1 situations. SO obviously when they got the third goal the game was then beyond us and then it was just a matter of pride. It was a matter of digging deep and continuing so that the afternoon doesn’t become a total disaster.

“Then in the last 20 minutes we got one back, a little bit of a consolation, but today was just a bad day at the office. A lot of lessons to be learnt, we need to regroup.

“We got a big derby on Friday, so we can’t feel sorry for ourselves, we have to find solutions, just get back to the training ground, get the guys back up.

“I can never fault their commitment or their effort. Once again, they tried, we just played a better team today.” Barker concluded.

Man of the Match: Monnapule Saleng (Orlando Pirates). Steve Barker Admits Orlando Pirates Were Better Than Them!