STELLENBOSCH FC head coach Steve Barker has expressed excitement and confidence ahead of his team’s CAF Confederation Cup semi-final clash against Tanzania’s Simba SC, led by fellow South African tactician Fadlu Davids.

The first leg of this semi finals will take place on Sunday, April 20 at the Amaan Complex in Zanzibar, with the return fixture set for April 27 at Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban, South Africa.

After a historic quarter-final triumph over Egyptian giants and defending champions Zamalek, Stellenbosch now face another massive test in their journey through continental competition. And for Barker, the upcoming battle against Davids’ Simba is not just a technical challenge, but also a meeting filled with familiarity and mutual respect.

“I played against Fadlu when he was coaching at Maritzburg United,” Barker was quoted as saying. “It’s nice that there are South Africans who will be in the semi-final, and possibly in the final. I’m looking forward to facing him. He’s a top coach doing a good job at Simba.”

The match also brings together a small but meaningful web of personal connections among the technical staff. Barker revealed that there is a close friendship between members of the coaching teams of both sides.

“I know Darien Wilken, Simba’s assistant coach, very well. He’s good friends with my assistant coach, Wesley Sergel. So, it will be nice to see them again,” Barker added, suggesting a sense of camaraderie beyond the intense competition on the pitch.

Despite the excitement, the Stellenbosch boss remains grounded and focused on the challenge ahead. He emphasized that his team has gained valuable experience from their extensive travels and demanding schedule this season, which will help them as they face one of the giants of African football.

“This season has shown, over a long period, that we’ve travelled a lot and learned how to deal with different situations,” said Barker. “I think we’re well prepared for this. Reaching the semi-finals was one of our biggest goals and we’ve always said that if we get this far, we might as well try to go all the way.”

The Cape Winelands outfit enters the semi-final on the back of a narrow but morale-boosting 1-0 win over AmaZulu in the South African Betway Premiership on Tuesday night. 

That victory, coming just days after their historic CAF Confederation Cup quarter-final triumph, has further underlined the mental and tactical growth of Barker’s squad.

“The maturity of this squad is something I’m proud of,” Barker said. “We’ve returned from a demanding CAF match and gone straight into domestic competition, and still found a way to grind out a win. That says a lot about the character and focus of the team.”

Stellenbosch’s achievement in reaching the CAF Confederation Cup semi-finals for the first time in the club’s history has already turned heads across the continent. Their elimination of Zamalek, one of the most decorated clubs in African football, has elevated the club’s profile significantly.

The win over Zamalek came in dramatic fashion, following a goalless first leg in South Africa. In the return leg in Cairo, Stellenbosch shocked the football world by defeating the Egyptian giants 1-0, sealing a semi-final berth against Simba.

Now, attention turns to the Tanzanian powerhouse, who are no strangers to continental success. Simba have become regular contenders in both the CAF Champions League and Confederation Cup in recent years and will pose a formidable challenge, particularly on home soil.

However, the semi-final opener will take place not at Simba’s traditional fortress, the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam, but at the Amaan Complex in Zanzibar. 

The change in venue adds a unique twist to the fixture, with the neutral ground potentially leveling the playing field for the South African visitors.

Stellenbosch, meanwhile, will enjoy the advantage of playing the decisive second leg in front of their home fans in Durban’s Moses Mabhida Stadium, a move that could provide a crucial psychological edge if the tie remains finely balanced after the first leg.

For Barker and his team, the message is clear: they are here to compete, not just to participate.

“We respect Simba a lot. They’re experienced, well-coached, and used to these kinds of games. But we’ve earned our place in the semi-finals. We believe in ourselves and will give everything we’ve got,” Barker stated.

With both coaches familiar with each other’s styles and sharing mutual respect, and with each team carrying strong momentum into the tie, the semi-final promises to be an intense, tactical, and emotional contest. 

The first leg on April 20 will set the tone for what is shaping up to be one of the most compelling clashes of this season’s CAF Confederation Cup.