Stellenbosch coach Steve Barker has shrugged off claims that he fielded Deano van Rooyen in the MTN8 game against TS Galaxy to lock him out from featuring for Orlando Pirates in the next rounds.
Van Rooyen was the subject of transfer speculation linking him to Pirates in August when Stellies took on Galaxy in the quarter-final and did not start the match.
The decision not to start was interpreted to mean the player was soon to leave and so Stellenbosch were preparing for life without him but he would later get a run in the game in the second half which effectively ruled him out of the competition when he completed his move to Pirates.
As Stellies take on the Soweto giants in the MTN8 final on Saturday, Van Rooyen will be a spectator as he is cup-tied and Barker has now revealed what really happened during the game against Galaxy.
Was there a sinister motive towards Van Rooyen?
“Unfortunately, you are speaking with an honest coach and honest club. At that stage there was a lot of noise around Deano, so he himself felt he was not on the right space to play and requested that he is not available for selection because at that moment just before that game there was a lot of things happening and he just felt that he wouldn’t be able to give 100 per cent to the team, just considering what was going on around,” Barker told iDiski Times.
“I understood and basically that’s why he didn’t start the game but it was important to have him on the bench because anything could have happened and we had to be covered in that position and hence he started on the bench and off the game it was required for him to come on.
“There was no thinking ahead or plan, he just felt he wasn’t ready to start the game. I appreciate he is honest, not so many players can be honest enough to tell you that and I can believe and trust him.”
The defender has started his Pirates career positively
Van Rooyen has since had a good start to his Pirates career, featuring in the CAF Champions League second preliminary round, while starting their three PSL games and his former coach wishes him success.
“He is a Pirates player now, whatever happens on Saturday I think he is a winner, I don’t know, does he get two medals? Or which one does he get but that was the main reason,” added Barker.
Pirates and Stellenbosch will square it off at the Moses Mabhida Stadium with the Buccaneers looking to become the first team to win three straight MTN8 titles while Stellies search for their maiden crown.
