Former Bafana Bafana head coach Clive Barker has passed away, the family confirmed on Saturday, 10 June.
According to the statement, this is after the 1996 AFCON-winning coach battled with “Lewy Body Dementia” for a long time.
Barker, who also steered South Africa to their maiden FIFA World Cup appearance, lost his life at the age of 78.
EX-BAFANA BAFANA COACH DIES AT 78
“It is with profound sadness that the family of former Bafana Bafana coach Clive Barker announce his
passing on Saturday, 10 June after a brave battle with Lewy Body Dementia (LBD),” said the statement from the family.
“Clive, 78, led South Africa to their only continental triumph at the Africa Cup of Nations finals in
1996, and also steered the side to a maiden World Cup appearance in France in 1998, and is fondly
remembered by fans across the country, as has been evident by the tremendous support he
received after falling ill.
“We would like to express our sincere gratitude to the medical professionals who cared for Clive
over the past six months,” the Barker family says. “He fought a brave battle, and we are relieved he
is now at peace.
“Clive will be remembered by South Africans for his role in helping to bring a nation together around
the 1996 Africa Cup of Nations, but for us he was a loving husband, father, and grandfather, and he
will be dearly missed.
“We have been overwhelmed by the enormous outpouring of love and support for Clive since he
was first diagnosed with LBD, and this is a testament to the coach, friend, and mentor he was to not
only several generations of footballers, but also anyone who crossed his path in the sport he so
dearly loved.
“We will provide details of the memorial service in the coming days and ask the family’s privacy be
respected at this very difficult time.”
Everyone at FARPost would like to send their sincere condolences to the Barker family, friends, loved ones, and the football fraternity at large.
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