Steve Barker praises team resilience after goal-filled victory

The win ended a recent scoring drought and kept the Maroons' momentum alive in front of their home fans.

The hosts started strongly, with Langelihle Phili opening the scoring early. However, Golden Arrows hit back on the stroke of half-time through Siyanda Ndlovu, setting the stage for a frenetic second half.

Andre de Jong then scored twice, sandwiched around a goal from Junior Dion, giving Stellenbosch a 4-2 lead. Yet the visitors refused to go quietly, with substitute Issac Cisse pulling one back to make it 4-3 and leave the result hanging until the final whistle.

Muzomuhle Khanyi, who had come off the bench moments earlier, sealed the win for the Maroons with his first goal for the club late in the game, much to Barker's relief.

"Seven-goal thrillers are great for the fans, but as a coach, they're nerve-wracking," Barker was quoted on the club's website.

"We needed the win, and after struggling to score recently, putting four past them was vital. Conceding three shows there's still work to do defensively, but the team showed character."

Barker praised his squad's early control, particularly in the first 20–25 minutes but admitted it was disappointing to concede just before halftime.

"The second half became a game of transitions, and mistakes led to goals at both ends. Ultimately, we found a way to secure the points, and I'm really relieved with the result," he added.

Stellies are in 13th place on the Betway Premiership standings with nine points after 10 games. The win against Arrows should be a morale booster for the club as the season continues especially after a poor start.