Bafana '96 captain Neil Tovey on Clive Barker's legacy: 'Everything he touched turned to gold'

Former Bafana Bafana Africa Cup of Nations-winning captain Neil Tovey says that Clive Barker's legacy will live on after the 78-year-old football icon died on Saturday.

In March, Barker’s family revealed through a press release that the legendary coach had been diagnosed with Lewy Body Dementia (LBD) which is a degenerative disease. It is a form of progressive dementia that leads to a decline in thinking and independent function. Earlier in 2023, Barker was treated for an aneurysm which was affecting blood flow to his heart. He seemed to be on the mend but ultimately succumbed to the illness.

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When Tovey spoke to News24 a few weeks back, there were growing concerns around Barker's health and, at the time, the former-skipper said: "I have been in touch with the family but Clive hasn’t been able to communicate recently. However, he remained positive about everything and drawing an analogy, even when faced with the most difficult playing conditions in Africa, he wouldn’t care about it."

Tovey and Barker had a storied history together, first as player and coach, then captain and coach and later as assistant and head coach when Tovey joined his mentor at AmaZulu in 2008. The pair dovetailed well and the following season Tovey became head coach, while Barker moved into the role of director of coaching and development.

"I first met Clive at Durban Juventus when I was still only a youngster and just after that when I played for the amateur team, we won the league," recalled Tovey, who spoke to News24 prior to Barker's passing.

"So even from that stage, Clive was winning as a coach and everything he touched turned to gold. For him to win