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Exclusive: Clive Barker Wanted Gavin Hunt As South Africa Coach

Goal.com's Ed Aarons spoke to former Bafana coach Clive Barker about the current situation with the national team ahead of the 2010 World Cup.

Oct 27, 2009 12:55:19 PM

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Clive Barker led South Africa to African Nations Cup glory in 1996, making him the most successful tactician to have coached the national side, and he believes that going local would be the best route once again.

“SAFA [the South African FA] might think Parreira gives us the best opportunity to do well next year, but I wouldn’t agree,” Barker told Goal.com.

"I would have liked to see a local coach given the chance and I think Gavin Hunt would be the best choice. His record is there for all to see - he’s won two PSL [Premier Soccer League] titles in a row for SuperSport United and I think he would adapt well to international level.”

Barker Wanted Hunt For Bafana

Barker added, “The key to international management is being able to motivate the players that you are working with, and Gavin is a master of that.”

Hunt is likely to be brought into the camp as an assistant in a move that is meant to groom him to take over the reins next year, following the 2010 World Cup, when a South African coach will finally take charge of Bafana.

The former Bafana coach is pleased to see the back of Joel Santana, who became a failure in the country during his 18-month stint in charge.

Barker said: “I don’t want to judge how difficult it was for him but any coach that can’t speak the language was always going to have a problem.

"I’m relieved that he’s gone because I know how frustrating it must have been for the players. To be told off by an interpreter rather than the man who is meant to be in charge must have made it very difficult for them and it’s little wonder that he didn’t have much of an effect.”

Finally Barker told Goal.com that there is still some hope for the future of Bafana.

He said: “It’s never too late to change things around - it was the same players who had lost so heavily in the early days of international football that managed to win the African Nations Cup in 1996.

"In the end, we were the envy of Africa because of the progress that was made. We need a strong character who can pick up this battered and bruised team and make them believe in themselves.

"Whoever takes over has to be able to instill a confidence among the players and make South Africans proud of their team again.”

Ed Aarons, Goal.com

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