SEDIBENG.- Former Bafana Bafana dreadlocked midfielder, Augustine Makalakalane is the latest player to pay tribute to Clive Barker (78) who passed away last Saturday and was buried yesterday, Thursday.
Barker was the most successful Bafana Bafana coach who managed to win the African Cup Of Nations (AFCON) in 1996 which was hosted by South Africa. He also led Bafana Bafana in their first-ever appearance in the World Cup in France in 1998.
Some of the teams that Barker coached include Amazulu and Mpumalanga Black Aces.
Speaking to Sedibeng Ster Sport, Makalakalane who was part of the Bafana Bafana team that was crowned the African champions described Barker as the best motivator. He said Barker was the luckiest coach who had a pool of the best players who played locally and overseas. Despite having the best players, Makalakalane said it was not easy for him to select the starting line eleven because of the quality he had in the team.
“There is much I can say about this man and he was a great motivator who understood our culture. For example, Bafana Bafana was a mix of different cultures but Coach Clive managed to bring us together under one umbrella, and the results were there for everyone to see. He was lucky because of the support system he had in playing personnel and the technical team.
“I still remember Jomo Sono was part of his technical staff and they brought the best out of us and it was no fluke we won the AFCON in 1996. I will say it again, he was lucky because he had talented players as some of them played overseas like myself, David Nyathi, Sizwe Motaung, Eric Tinkler, and Shoes Moshoeu to mention but a few.
“Clive’s job was just to motivate us because of the great talent he had. Again, Nelson Mandela would visit us at our hotel every night to motivate us. But having said this, Clive was simply the best at celebrating each and every goal we scored. He was famous for his trademark celebration on the touchline,” said Makalakalane whom soccer fans used to boo for wearing white soccer boots.
SAFA President Danny Jordaan said the association plans to honour Clive Barker through their programs.
