SEDIBENG.- The passing of Former Bafana Bafana Clive Barker has brought a lot of memories to me and makes me have a lot to write about him. He is the most successful Bafana Bafana coach having won the only African Cup of Nations in 1996. This was during the time of ‘Madiba Magic’ with Nelson Mandela being instrumental to the success of Bafana Bafana.
To add his accolades, he was also the first Bafana Bafana coach to take this country to its first-ever World Cup in France in 1998. However, he was not part of the team that went to compete there after parting ways with SAFA.
South African football history will never be written without mentioning the name, Clive Barker. Those so-called European coaches with decorated CVs failed to do what Clive Barker had achieved. To make it worse, even today we are still basking in the glory of 1996 Afcon thanks to Coach Clive Barker. SAFA President Danny Jordaan said they will honour this fallen hero through SAFA programs. But why did we have to wait until it is too late to honour those who contributed positively to the development of our football?
Why?
Clive Barker and those before him were supposed to be honoured and acknowledged for their contribution to South African football. We have failed many when it comes to acknowledging them while still alive. We waited until is too late and the only time they trend is when it’s R.I.P. This is the only time you will know their contribution not only in football but in society.
Back to Clive Barker, this man handled South African football with aplomb, with no one coming near to what he achieved with Bafana Bafana.
Unfortunately, now we speak about him in the past tense, he was supposed to hear all these things while still alive. MATTER OF FACT, we don’t do justice to our own until they have passed away. For the past week, Clive Barker was all over the news, social media, I mean everywhere you would hear, this and that about him.
Even those who don’t follow football, suddenly knew who Clive Barker was but all this time they didn’t know who was this man. He was trending in R.I.P.
How so?
Good night Coach Clive Barker, you have run your race and now it is time to be Heaven’s Finest.
