Kutuswa uBarker ngokushiya kwiStellies
U-STEVE Barker oshiye isigubhukane kwiStellenbosch FC wathatha isikhundla sokuba ngumqeqeshi weqembu laseTanzania, iSimba SC, elidlala kwiCaf Champions League
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UMQEQESHI osemnkantshubomvu, u-Owen “DG” Da Gama, uncoma isibindi sobengumqeqeshi weStellenbosch FC, uSteve Barker, sokushiya leli qembu abesehlale kulona isikhathi eside, waqoma ukujoyina iqembu laseTanzania, iSimba SC.
UBarker (57) wethulwe njengomqeqeshi omusha weSimba ngoLwesihlanu, kulandela ukwesula isigubhukane kwiStellenbosch, abesehlale kuyo amasizini ayisishiyagalombili.
Lo mqeqeqeshi owaqeqesha nasemaqenjini okubalwa kuwona i-University of Pretoria naMaZulu FC, ufike kwiStellies ngesizini ka-2017/18, isagijima kwiNational First Division (esiyiMotsepe Foundation Championship). Wayihola ngempumelelo yadla isicoco seligi, yakhushulelwa kweseBetway Premiership ngesizini ka-2018/19.
Ngaphansi kukaBarker, iStellies inqobe indebe yokuqala kwiPremiership iqukula iCarling Knockout ngesizini ka-2023/24. Yafinyelela kowamanqanu weMTN8 amahlandla amabili ngesizini ka-2024/25 nangeka-2025/26.
Iphinde yafinyelela kowandulela owamanqamu weCaf Confederation Cup ngesizini edlule ka-2024/25.
“Ngikholwa wukuthi bambalwa kakhulu abantu abebecabanga ukuthi uSteve angayeka ukuqeqesha iStellenboch ebisifana nekhaya kuyena futhi esekwa kakhulu ngabaphathi bayo.
"Kodwa iqiniso wukuthi umqeqeshi webhola akasoze aba nekhaya laphakade ngaphandle kukaJomo Sono (esho sakuncokola).
"Ngakho ngikholwa wukuthi bese sifikile isikhathi sokuthi uSteve ajubalale ayothola inselelo entsha kwenye indawo ehlukile, aqhubeke nokukhula njengomqeqeshi webhola.
"Eqinisweni uyenzele umsebenzi omuhle iStellenbosch, uma ubheka ukuthi ngesikhathi esingaphansi kweminyaka eyisishiyagalolunye kuphela iqembu lasungulwa, selinqobe indebe, lafinyelela kowamanqamu weMTN8 amahlandla amabili ngaphansi kwesandla sakhe,” kusho uDa Gama obeqeqesha Black Lions edlala kwiBotswana Premier League.
“Ukuhlala endaweni eyodwa kuyakwenza ukuthi kwesinye isikhathi ugcine usuthatha izinto kalula, hhayi ebholeni kuphela, nasempilweni nje jikelele.
"Ngakho ngicabanga ukuthi ukuya kukaSteve eqenjini elinjengeSimba elihlale lidlala kwiChampions League (nakwiConfederation Cup) kuzomkhulisa kakhulu njengomqeqeshi, kumvulele namanye amathuba njengabanye abaqeqeshi balapha eMzansi abanjengoPitso Mosimane, Rhulani Mokwena noFadlu Davids.”
UBarker oshiye iStellies isanda kuzibekisela indawo esigabeni samaqoqo seConfederation Cup, kulindeleke ahlale okokuqala ebhentshini leSimba isibhekene ne-Esperance yaseTunisia, kowomzuliswano wesibili wesigaba samaqoqo kwiCaf Champions League ngoJanuwari 23, eTunisia.