to download a complete issue in pdf format - News Design Associates

10 SoccerWeekjune 04 – june 10, 2009interviewBARKER EYES PSLSteve Barker speaks to Neall de Beer about the wonders he has worked at AmaTuksBarker has the backing of the whole teamNeall de Beer chats to Universityof Pretoria coachSteve Barker, who guidedhis side to an unlikelyNedbank Cup final spot, about hisplans for next season.Why do you think that you were sosuccessful in the Nedbank Cup thisyear?Steve Barker: In all honesty it’s along foundation that has been laidover a number of years. The clubhas been on the rise and progressingin the right direction, it’s justbeen a matter of hard work. We builtup a good quality squad of playersand our preparation and conditioningand organisation have been reallytop. We have been training andthinking and being like a PSL teamin whatever we do and I think all thatis counting in our favour.You showed this season that youcould beat some of the biggest sidesin the country with wins over Chiefs,Ajax and Bloemfontein Celtic. If youcould beat all these sides and competewith them why do you think youfailed to win promotion to the PSL?I don’t think that people realise that,to me in all honesty, it’s easier toplay the PSL teams than to play fellowNational First Division teamsfor whatever reason. I don’t knowif you would be able to do it over awhole season, but the Nedbank fixturesin my opinion have been easierthan playing away to Black Leopardsor Dynamos. It’s the quality ofthe National First Division teams,the hunger they have. Teams thatare playing are fighting for theirlives. Getting relegated down to Vodacomwould be the end of most ofthe players’ careers, so it’s the hungerand the desire not to get relegatedwhen you are playing thoseteams in between the Nedbank fixtures,it’s far more difficult. Maybethe PSL teams underestimated us.So, it wasn’t a question of not beingable to beat the National First Divisionteams, I just found that it wasmore difficult to play against them.Vladislav Heric recently told me thatthere isn’t much of a divide betweenCoach ponders his plan to reach thePremiershipTuks have flourished under Barker’sstewardship❝My number one planis to be in the PSLwith the University ofPretoria Football Club❞the National First division and thePSL. Do you agree with these sentiments?Yes, most definitely. I think your topsort of 15 players in your PSL teamsdeserve to be there, but I think withregard to the reserves it’s safe to saythat the first 15 in my squad are betterthan some of the PSL players. Soin terms of that, I do definitely thinkthat the bridge has definitely closed.Of the PSL sides that you beat in theNedbank Cup, which win meant themost to you?I think definitely Kaizer Chiefs. Youknow to beat a giant in football andthe scoreline 4-3 and having a playerred carded, scoring with 10 men.I think that was probably the mostsatisfying victory of all.You have been linked with a move toa number of PSL clubs, are you keenon a move to the PSL or are you happywhere you are?My number one plan is to be in thePSL with the University of PretoriaFootball Club. Two seasons back wegot to the final of the play-offs andthis year we were close to the playoffsagain, so I feel that I want to givemyself one more year with the Universityside and get them to the PSL.Should we not be able to do that thenI will reconsider my future.How do you plan to keep the team’smomentum going into next season?I think it’s down to retaining theplayers that have been with us andthen making sure that we add evenmore quality to the team. And youknow we are already looking to themarket, looking to hopefully findour African quota of players to addreal quality to the club and obviouslystart the season believing that ifwe can be in the Nedbank final andcome so close to the play-offs. Weneed to do everything in our powerto ensure that we do achieve it.You said you are looking at strengtheningyour squad by bringing in afew players, have you made any signingsyet or are you close to makingany signings?At this stage none, we’re pretty muchjust finalising the season. There area couple of players we would like totarget, but at this stage it would bedifficult to reveal any names or anything.At this stage we have prettymuch given everyone off. We arehaving some trials in the first weekin July. There are a couple of ourown development academy playerswho are still busy training and I’mlooking at. There will be one or twoplayers promoted from our youthstructures and there will be one ortwo players that will come throughthe trials and there are a couple thatwe will sign from other clubs.Of the current crop of players thatyou have, how many do you believecan go on to become future BafanaBafana stars?There are at least three players thathave got the opportunity to one dayplay for Bafana Bafana; Andile Jali,Mpho Matsi and Siya Mngoma.How do you think the Bafana Bafanaside will fare in the upcoming ConfederationsCup?I’m positive that we will do well, I’mlooking forward to it and I wouldn’tbe surprised if we could end up inthe final and it’s going to be tough,but I definitely think we’re semifinalcandidates and, with a bitof luck, we could win a semi finalgame and hopefully play inthe final.Do you think Joel Santana is theright man in charge?It’s difficult for me to say, not beinginvolved on a day-to-day basis.There has definitely been progress.It was unfortunate that Carlos AlbertoParreira left when he did becausethe team was really on the upwardcurve, but there seems to bemomentum and belief that we areheading in the right direction at themoment. It’s too late now to be experimenting,we just have to putfaith in the man and hopefully hecan pull it through for us.What does life outside football consistof for Steve Barker?I have got a newly born daughter, sheis 18 months so it’s always nice to gohome and spend time with her andjust relaxing with friends over theweekend, watching football matchesand not trying to be too active.Your plans during the off-season?I’m going to take a total break andcome back at the end of the monthrefreshed and ready for next season’schallenges.