By Thandisizwe Mgudlwa
The South African Football Association (SAFA) must do the sensible thing and re-hire Clive Barker to coach Bafana Bafana again.
After a successful spell as the head coach of the SA's senior soccer men's team since early 1994 till his stepped in December 1997, a few months before defending his 1996 African Nations Cup glory on home-soil, Barker unceremoniously axed after the teams early exist in the Confederations Cup held in Saudi Arabia.
Bafana Bafana had qualified to play in the inter-continental tournament due to them being African Champions in 1996.
If Barker had stay on after his exist in December 1997, he would have been the first coach to coach Bafana Bafana to the 1998 Soccer Wold Cup in France. Barker had qualified South Africa to the world's greatest show.
Currently, Barker has just joined SA's Premier League outfit Maritzburg United.
In an newspaper interview in the early 2000s Barker admitted that he had to strike a deal with SAFA that he would resign instead of being fired.
But what is now clear is that Bafana Bafana are far away from being #No 1 in Africa and #No 16 world, which they had achieved under Barker coaching.
Also in 1996, under Barker, FIFA bestowed Bafana Bafana with an international award as the most improved team, a Best Mover of the Year.
All the other coaches have not achieved anything close to what Barker achieved.
Barker was a professional footballer in the 1960s, playing for Durban City and Durban United having made his debut at the age of 17. He had a trial with Leicester City, but a serious knee injury quickly ended his career.
"The Dog", as he is nicknamed, became a manager in the 1970s, coaching numerous clubs in South Africa, including Durban City, Manning Rangers,AmaZulu (Zulu Royals) and Santos Cape Town. In the 1980s he won championships with various teams.
During his club career he won two league championships and two league cups. He was one of the first white managers in the South African league.
In 2013, Barker took Wits University to forth spot of South Africa's highest league the PSL. He has won numerous awrds/honours and other many accolades.
Today, Bafana Bafana are 23 years old and are ranked #No 17 in Africa and 72 in the world. Clearly Barker was the best thing to have happened to Bafana Bafana and probably to South African soccer generally.
SAFA must do South Africa a huge favor return Barker to coach Bafana Bafana.
Bafana Bafana are still the pride of the nation.