Barker believes Shakes is right man for Bafana job

30 July 2014 - 15:26 By MARC STRYDOM
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Clive Barker head coach of Black Aces says he has always believed that a South African coach can get the best out of the senior men's national team. File photo
Clive Barker head coach of Black Aces says he has always believed that a South African coach can get the best out of the senior men's national team. File photo

Clive Barker believes new Bafana Bafana coach Shakes Mashaba has the personality to get the best out of the team.

Mpumalanga Black Aces coach Barker, the 1996 Africa Cup of Nations-winning Bafana boss, believes Mashaba might be the right man to inject young blood into a team that has failed to qualify for a major competition since the 2008 Afcon in Ghana.

“I’’m delighted for his selection because I always thought it should be a South African. I think he’’s got a certain way of working with young players,” Barker said yesterday.

“He’’s proved that in the Benni McCarthy, Quinton Fortune era where the SA Under-23s beat Brazil in the 2000 Olympics.

“People say to me, ’’What has he done, what has he won?’’ I say I remember when he had Vaal Reefs and they were a very ordinary team and he made them perform and kept them surviving. I always thought to myself then, Shake Mashaba, Peter Nyama, those types of coaches have got something.

“I have no doubt he will deliver. I honestly believe local coaches have a better feeling for the way SA should play. I hope he’’s given enough time.”

Barker said there needs to be an end to the rivalries and self-interest that have seen clubs too often refuse to release players for national duty.

“It’’s nonsense. It has to be the pinnacle of your career to want to play for Bafana. When I had the team everybody wanted to play,” the coach said.

“If you left a player out he was distraught. That’’s exactly the culture Shakes must instal, and the players also have to respond.

“I watched the [Commonwealth Games] swimming last night and when the anthem was playing Cameron van der Burgh was crying. And I think it shows that somebody wants to do something for SA.

“And if Shakes gets that winning culture going he’’ll bring the crowds back, and Safa will be very happy because they’’ll be making money.”

Barker believes Mashaba, who has lost just twice in 19 matches in various stints with Bafana, could be the right coach to rebuild from the generation of the 2009 Confederations Cup and 2010 World Cup.

Mashaba has consistently achieved successful win rates with junior national teams, including reaching the World U-20 Youth Championships in 1997 after finishing runners-up in Africa.

“Let’’s just go with a player who’’s got a bit of flair,” Barker said. “And then work them in with those players with a European influence, playing for Ajax Amsterdam and clubs like that. And get them really as a unit, working the way you want them to. Get them happy.

“He’’s got a great personality, he’’s a soft guy by nature, he will get the best out of the players and I have no doubt he’’ll turn a bad situation into a good situation.

“Not that I think Gordon Igesund had done badly. I thought Gordon had turned it around and we weren’’t playing badly.

“So I just think there’’s a way forward. Let’’s get behind Safa, right behind the coach and make sure it’’s a successful time in SA football.”

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