Following Steve Barker’s departure from Stellenbosch FC, his renowned eye
for talent has come into focus. PSLSA highlights ten standout players
whose careers were launched or transformed under the 57-year-old coach,
tracing his influence from his time at the University of Pretoria
(AmaTuks) through to his tenure in the Cape Winelands.
1. Junior Mendieta
Discovered by Stellenbosch while playing in Argentina’s lower leagues, the
then-27-year-old flourished for just two seasons before a
multimillion-rand move to Mamelodi Sundowns.
2. Mthokozisi Yende
His performances for AmaTuks during their memorable 2009 Nedbank Cup
run—which took the NFD side to the final under Barker—earned him a move to
Kaizer Chiefs.
3. Aubrey Ngoma
A product of AmaTuks’ youth ranks, Ngoma broke through under Barker in the
Motsepe Foundation Championship before being signed by Orlando Pirates in
2012.
4. Deano Van Rooyen
A true homegrown talent at Stellenbosch, Van Rooyen was nurtured into a
captain by Barker before completing an eight-year stay with a move to
Pirates.
5. Ashley Du Preez
Another academy graduate from Stellenbosch, Du Preez developed under
Barker and his impressive form led to a 2022 transfer to Kaizer Chiefs.
6. Washington Arubi
The Zimbabwean goalkeeper first arrived in South Africa with AmaTuks in
2012. After Barker’s exit, he reunited with the coach at Stellenbosch in
2017, where his form caught the eye of SuperSport United.
7. Thabang Monare
Monare earned his professional breakthrough at AmaTuks during their
memorable 2009/10 season. His career later flourished at Jomo Cosmos and
Bidvest Wits, where his talent became widely recognized.
8. Grant Kekana
Developed through the AmaTuks ranks under Barker, Kekana honed his skills
before joining SuperSport United in 2011, beginning a journey that would
later see him star for Mamelodi Sundowns.
9. Bongani Zungu
A relative unknown when he joined AmaTuks in 2012, Zungu needed just one
season under Barker to attract the attention of Mamelodi Sundowns, who
secured his signature.
10. Andile Jali
Jali’s talent was unveiled during Barker’s tenure at AmaTuks. His role in
the 2009 Nedbank Cup final run paved the way for a high-profile move to
Orlando Pirates.
Through both astute scouting and dedicated development, Barker’s legacy is
etched in the careers of these players, many of whom have become key
figures at South Africa’s biggest clubs.
