Emotional scenes as family, SA soccer community pay final respects to 'father figure' Clive Barker

It was a day of mourning but also a moment to remember the true significance of legendary former Bafana Bafana head coach Clive Barker as he was honoured with a special provincial funeral in his home province of KwaZulu-Natal on Thursday.

RECAP | Former Bafana coach Clive Barker's official provincial funeral

Barker's family and friends alongside government leaders, South Africa's huge football fraternity and fellow mourners, paid their final respects at the Olive Convention Centre in Durban prior to his burial.

Barker, 78, who died following a battle with Lewy Body Dementia (LBD), reached iconic status after he guided Bafana to a major trophy, the 1996 Afcon title, which still lingers in the hearts of all South Africans.

At the memorial service, Barker's wife, Yvonne, and his sons, Gavin and John, were seated right in front with members of the 1996 squad - Mark Williams, Doctor Khumalo, Andre Arendse, Neil Tovey, Mark Fish and Lucas Radebe.

Renowned sports broadcaster Robert Marawa was on hosting duties for the memorial, with government officials and the South African Football Association (SAFA) president Danny Jordaan also present.

Addressing the procession, an emotional Gavin said his father touched many people’s lives, including the doctors and nurses who nurtured the former coach during his final months.

"His ability to make everyone feel better about themselves or want to be better soccer players and sportsmen or women was something to see,” Gavin, a filmmaker by trade, said.

"This was again true with the doctors and nurses, they all remarked on how amazing he was and how positive he was right until the end. He was just the most incredibly positive person.

"Those doctors could not believe how he touched their lives in such a