Stellenbosch FC head coach Steve Barker can breathe a sigh of relief after the transfer window closed on Friday.
Stellenbosch has been the mine of gold for player quality in the past few seasons, having lost key players locally and internationally in recent times.
This past window transfer the Cape Winelands side lost Deano Van Rooyen to Orlando Pirates and Iqraam Rayners to Mamelodi Sundowns.
Fawaaz Basadien and Jayden Adams made headlines by being linked with a move away from Stellenbosch. As this publication reported, Stellies rejected four offers for Adams as they were trying to keep him.
Barker is a happy man that Basadien scored a contender for goal of the season outside the window transfer saying it would’ve added more pressure to them if it was during the window transfer.
“We’ve been under a lot of pressure with him and Jayden [Adams]. We shouldn’t have been in a position to lose more than what we had in terms of Deano [Van Rooyen] and Iqraam [Rayners] two big players leaving the club,” Barker told iDiski Times.
“We’ve done well in keeping Fawaaz and Jaydan and they showed the reason why we’ve been wanting not to let them go we believe we can be as competitive as any team in the league so it was important for us to hold on to them.
“Had it been before it would’ve been tougher but well done to well-taken goal.”
Stellenbosch also secured a place in the group stage of the CAF Confederation Cup after a 3-1 aggregate win over Linafoot giants AS Vita last week.
iDiski Times
www.idiskitimes.co.za