The committed, well-coached Thabo Moloisane, grounded and rounded into a quality centreback through Mamelodi Sundowns’ development system, is exactly the kind of player Stellenbosch FC coach Steve Barker likes.
The former University of Pretoria coach, nephew of late, legendary Bafana Bafana boss Clive Barker, keeps it simple and rugged. His teams are like rock to break down and effective and uncomplicated attacking at pace.
It’s a formula that has brought Barker much success at less-resourced teams, from the first division Tuks that he famously took to the 2009 Nedbank Cup final to a Stellies flying in second place in the DStv Premiership this season, where they have also won the Carling Knockout.
They are in the quarterfinals of the Nedbank Cup, where they meet another superbly organised, development-based team brimming with potential, Gavin Hunt’s SuperSport United Lucas Moripe Stadium on Saturday (7.30pm).
Billionaire Johann Rupert’s ownership should not give the impression Stellenbosch are a club with bottomless resources. They are essentially mostly an academy team, with superb facilities to use at Stellenbosch University’s high-performance centre, who make wise, cost-effective signings.
Signings like Moloisane, who have flown under the radar but whose potential a wily coach like former Wits University midfielder Barker will notice.
The South Africa under-20 international realised, sensibly, he would battle to break through at star-studded Sundowns. He moved to Cape Town All Stars in the National First Division (NFD), and found game time and valuable experience to put his defensive skills to the test there.
“I think the NFD actually helped me a lot — I think that’s what made me believe in myself,” he said.
“After two seasons I was given an option to renew and I thought, you know what, I think I’ve done enough in the NFD to take a chance and go to Maritzburg [United, in July 2022]. It’s just unfortunate Maritzburg were relegated last season. But at the same time I was probably playing my best football at Maritzburg, hence I got noticed by Stellenbosch.
“So I think it [the move from Sundowns] is paying off very well for me. Because also Sundowns played a huge role. I spent seven years there, I was a well-developed player, I believe, and it’s paying off for me today.”
Stellenbosch have gone a fairly phenomenal 14 Premiership games and 20 league and cup matches unbeaten. They show unusual discipline levels for a group of young players — often youthful squads with potential can be plagued with over-excitement at good results, go off the boil for a game or two, get the form back ... and repeat.
I haven’t been to an environment that takes care of its football the way Stellenbosch do. I definitely see myself playing for them for a long time. We consider ourselves a team that’s going to be competing, a team that wants to make sure sides think twice before playing against us.
— Thabo Moloisane
Moloisane said the secret of Stellies’ success is their young players fight for each other, are on the same wavelength, and buy into coach Barker’s solid gameplan and discipline.
“We are very lucky to have a coach like coach Steve,” Moloisane said. “He tells us one thing — that it’s never about what people think about us, it’s never about how many games we’re winning, it’s just about showing up on the day of the game and making sure we get the result.
“We’re all at the same age. We try to be there for each other. And the most important thing is to make sure we are all pulling on the same line. We are all professionals, we know what’s expected of us, and it’s generally up to you [as an individual].”
“We have a lot of mantras in our team. Because we’re a young team we always stress being there for one another. Our age group allows us to relate to one another.
“Personally it’s not something I’m not used to because at All Stars we were doing quite well. And I think the thing that has helped me this season is the consistency to play well in as many games as I can. And mentally it’s just showing there is actually a bigger avenue to my talent, a bigger avenue for the team I’m playing for, with the environment we have.
“We have a lot of youngsters who just want to do well. It’s showing now with the trophies, with the wins we’re getting. And I did say it in my first interview at the start of the season, that people were going to be surprised at the special moments we would make this campaign.
“I haven’t been to an environment that takes care of its football the way Stellenbosch do. I definitely see myself playing for them for a long time. We consider ourselves a team that’s going to be competing, a team that wants to make sure sides think twice before playing against us.”
Most teams do think twice. Playing Stellies is one of the tougher things to do in the Premiership, and this season, many have succumbed to them.
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