Steve Barker confident and prepared as Stellenbosch face AS Otoho in CAF group opener

Barker, who guided Stellies to a historic continental run last season, believes the team has grown in confidence and maturity, and he is eager to see that reflected in their first Group C encounter.

"We are excited, coming off a good campaign last season. As a football club, we've always aimed to make our mark and leave a footprint on the continent. These are the occasions we look forward to," Barker told the media.

"We know how difficult it is to get out of the Group Stage and understand the importance of winning our home matches," he said.

Barker also reserved praise for AS Otoho, warning that the visitors arrive with quality and experience that cannot be underestimated, but he is pleased with his sides' preparation for the match.

"They've earned the right to be in the Group Stage, which shows they're a good team. They've got a number of players in their national squad and some really good footballers. We're expecting a difficult match — there is never an easy match at this level," he added.

"We've worked really hard to improve on certain areas we identified, and with that preparation, we have the confidence to get off to a good start," Barker added.

With the match being played in Polokwane due to stadium unavailability in the Western Cape, Barker insists the team will approach the challenge with the right mindset.

"It becomes an attitudinal thing. We must see it as a privilege. We're not only representing Stellenbosch and the Western Cape — we're representing South Africa on the continent. Wherever we play, we need to make our fans and the public of South Africa proud," he said.