Stellenbosch FC captain, Sage Stevens, believes his team needs to strengthen its defensive positions to maintain attacking momentum in the upcoming match against Golden Arrows on Wednesday.
Stellenbosch FC is showing high morale after a successful start to the Betway Premiership campaign. The team aims to continue this wave of success when facing the strong side Golden Arrows on Wednesday evening.
Previously, Stellies defeated Marumo Gallants 3-1 at Athlone Stadium, securing their first league win of the season. This victory was made possible by debutant Kwant Plaatjies, who scored his first hat-trick in professional football in his debut match. Furthermore, in this match, Stellies scored six goals in two consecutive games, having previously drawn 3-3 with Polokwane.
Despite the impressive offensive output, which pleases captain and number one goalkeeper Sage Stevens, he emphasizes that the team can play better defensively. Since the start of the season, they have conceded in each of the three games, totaling five goals against.
Stevens told the club's media service: 'We scored six goals in two matches, and that shows the work being done behind the scenes. That is confidence. The players up front are playing very well – we just need to balance it out in defense.' He added that it is a process, and scoring three goals in a row demonstrates the level of confidence in front of the goal.
Describing the team's mood after a series of losses, draws, and wins, Stevens noted the positive impact of the recent game against Gallants. He stressed that the team has worked hard throughout the season, and this is reflected in their performances, although the points gained were not as many as desired.
Golden Arrows present a serious challenge for Stellies. They started the season impressively under coach Pitso Dladla and have demonstrated a solid defense, conceding no goals in five matches since the start of the campaign. Additionally, Arrows are participating in the MTN8 semi-finals.
The Abafana Bes’thende team intends to win the match, which will take place at King Zwelithini Stadium, at all costs. A victory will be a significant boost to morale and will serve as a rehearsal before the decisive MTN8 semi-final match later in the week, which will be played at home against Sundowns on Sunday. In the first match, they won 1-0 in Atteridgeville last Saturday.
Stevens is aware of the threat posed by Arrows and their defensive resilience. However, he believes that the long break the team had for preparation will prove beneficial. 'Preparation went very well. We had time to prepare because we weren't playing every three days. The coaches put us through tests; the intensity of training was high. The match preparation went excellently. I think the guys are ready for Wednesday,' said Stevens.