Barker reflects on midweek draw against Pirates: 'We were the better team'

Stellenbosch coach Steve Barker was full of praise for his side following their 1-1 DStv Premiership draw with Orlando Pirates on Wednesday.

Nkosinathi Sibisi broke the deadlock at the Danie Craven Stadium on 45 minutes but Junior Mendieta secured a point for Stellenbosch with his equaliser on 54 minutes.

Despite not coming away with all three points, Barker was massively impressed with the performance, after they had kicked off the new season with a 0-0 draw away to Marumo Gallants.

Barker told SuperSport: "Obviously, it was a tough encounter, Pirates are a good team. But again credit must go to my team. I thought we were superb in the first half; it’s probably the best 45 minutes I’ve seen this football club play.

"[It was] a bit of a travesty of justice to go 1-0 down. A lot of things didn’t go our way, but we stuck to the task and came out second half and continued to fight for the badge of the club and I think we deserved at minimum a point."

Stellies defender Oswin Andries scooped the Man of the Match award for his display on debut.

Barker added: "I think overall we were the better team. We created the better chances throughout the match. To see a player like Andries get man of the match on a debut, a youngster that is playing out of position just shows what this club's about and what he is about. I'm really proud of him and really proud of the effort of all the players.

"We should be walking out the first half with a lead. We walked into the change room down. But credit must go (to the players) to come out in the second half to put on the effort that we did and I fully think we deserved the equaliser and Pirates are a good team."