Stellenbosch FC coach Steve Barker has emphasised the importance of winning home games to be successful in CAF competitions.
On Sunday, Stellenbosch kept their CAF Confederation Cup quarter-final hopes alive by winning their home game 2-0 against Angola's Desportivo da Lunda Sul at Loftus Versfeld Stadium, which can hardly be called their home venue because it is some 1,500 kms from their Winelands base.
As it turned out, Stellenbosch's nomadic existence has not deterred the players from striking a winning combination.
“It was a big game for us to ensure we get maximum points playing at home. It does show on the continent that lots of home teams win, so it was our responsibility to win the game,” said Barker.
After tasting defeat in their opening two games, Stellenbosch has fought back gallantly to win their next two games, both against the Angolans.
Last month, Stellenbosch ran close-shave 1-0 winners in Angola and some lessons were valuable for the game on Sunday at Loftus.
Barker said that in Angola he noticed Lunda Sul showed tiredness after an hour's play. It was a chink in the opposition's armour, and he wanted to exploit it.
“We experienced when we played them in Angola that when the 60th minute came, they seemed to run out of legs and that's why when the second half started we opened the game," said Barker.
“Once the play opened, we started getting more and more control of the game and more opportunities. Fortunately, we scored quite early after halftime. That forced them to come out, and then we scored the second.
"Thereafter, we controlled the game well enough and were not under any sort of stress. It was a good victory, a well-controlled game in the second half, as well as a mature performance from everybody.
"We had one or two chances to get the third. We did not get the third, but we kept a clean sheet and with three points we are right where we want to be in this competition.
"Next week Sunday, is another big game for us against Mali's State Malian (also at Loftus).
"Having played State Malian already when in our very first game in CAF Confederation continental football, it was a difficult trip for us. It was a steep learning curve, and we were not at our best on the day. Maybe we gave them too much respect considering it was our first game away from home. I think we'll approach it differently come Sunday."