Steve Barker complains about the refereeing in his game which ended in a draw against Singida Black Stars!
Steve Barker, the head coach of Stellenbosch FC, cut a figure of profound frustration mixed with pride following his team’s dramatic 1-1 draw with Tanzania’s Singida Black Stars in the CAF Confederation Cup. The clash at the Amani Stadium in Zanzibar saw his side take a commanding lead through Langelihle Phili, only to have victory snatched away by a late penalty decision that the coach vehemently disputes.
Despite the bitter taste of the result, Barker was effusive in his praise for his players’ effort and tactical execution. “I’m very disappointed in the officiating, but it is what it is. Players gave a good account of themselves,” he told the club’s media, striking a balance between criticism and commendation.
His frustration centered on two pivotal moments that, in his view, robbed his team of a perfect start in the competition. “Yeah, look, in my opinion, we should have six points. Unfortunately, a key penalty is not given to us when we’re leading 1-0. Which probably makes us circle in 2-0,” Barker explained, suggesting a missed opportunity to seal the game was compounded by the decision that cost them.
Elaborating on the team’s performance, the pleased tactician highlighted their disciplined approach. “We had good structure, we defended well, we had opportunities on transitions. On half-time, that was the message, I knew, just one opportunity to get in behind them – we would get something which we did. And obviously, after that, we had to manage the game.”
The sting of the draw was evident as he concluded his assessment, pointing directly to the game’s turning points. “Instead of getting a penalty to go 2-0 up, we conceded a late penalty. So, I’m disappointed in the outcomes of the game. I believe that was an opportunity to get maximum points.”
For Barker and Stellenbosch, the match will be remembered as one where a stellar away performance was overshadowed by controversial officiating, leaving them to rue what might have been.
