Struggling Stellenbosch happy to lose players to U-20 World Cup

Stellenbosch coach Steve Barker says his club had no hesitation in releasing two players to go and compete for South Africa at the U-20 World Cup even though the club are struggling and need all the resources at their disposal.

Both Langelihle Phili and Siviwe Nkwali are in the 21-man South Africa squad for the tournament in Chile, which kicks off at the weekend.

Left winger Phili is Stellenbosch’s top scorer in the league this season with three goals.

“It's always tough losing a player that is a little bit in form and now starting to showcase what he's capable of doing,” said Barker as the side readied to host Durban City in the Betway Premiership on Wednesday.

“But, you know, I've always said that national interests also important for us, and he deserves to be going to the World Cup and so we can only wish him well. And you know, other players will be given an opportunity, so it's up to them to step up and fill the void that he's going to be leaving.

“Hopefully when he comes back, having played at a World Cup and is even better than what he is now.”

Barker said even with Stellenbosch struggling near the foot of the table there was no thought of keeping Nkwali and Phili, even if they are entitled to do so because the U-20 World Cup falls outside of the Fifa international window and clubs are not obliged to release players.

“We as a club would not do that. We would allow them to go,” the coach explained.

“Somehow football pays you back in a different way. If a player gets opportunity to go to World Cup and you say no, can you imagine how he must feel not getting that opportunity? And I suppose Tylon Smith is a good example of someone who we let go, he was really good at the (U-20) Afcon and he's now at QPR.

“When there's opportunity for players at a young age to play for their national teams, it would be very, very difficult for us not to let them go.”