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| Dog days: Aces coach Clive Barker |
Speaking on my football show BOLLOCKZ! on www.ballz.co.za, Barker said: “OJ has been
fantastic. A revelation. He reminds me of Muhammad Ali when he takes his top
off! With him we’ve got half a chance to win a Cup competition too.
“He seems to be really enjoying it at Aces, OJ doesn’t need
reminding of what happened to him in the past. When I look at him, in that
holding role in the middle of the park where Spurs initially played him, he’s a
terrific character. A competitor. He reminds me of Mark Fish!”
Mabizela started out at Maritzburg United before moving to
Orlando Pirates, where he scored against a touring Tottenham Hotspur. He was
duly shipped off to London, scoring on a beauty on his debut against Leicester
in 2003.
Homesickness and “a poor attitude” meant “Old John” returned
to South Africa after only nine first-team games at White Hart Lane, but after
spells at Mamelodi Sundowns, Platinum Stars, Bidvest Wits and Chippa United, Barker
has done what he’s good at: get the best out of a 33-year-old who was generally
considered to be past it.
Barker, who coached Bafana Bafana to the now-legendary 1996
African Cup of Nations triumph, said: “When you win everything seems okay but
when you lose, it’s not so good on the bus home.
“It’s not just OJ. Bafana Nhlapo is the in-form goalkeeper
at the moment, he’s hot, gone four games without conceding a goal (before
Sunday’s 1-0 defeat against Polokwane City)
“I’d be disappointed if we don’t finish in the top eight
this season, we’ve got quality players with the right attitude. I just think we
all bind, at the moment we’re very happy about what happened against Mamelodi
Sundowns, beating the top team in the league. But you don’t want to tempt fate.”
At 69, Barker’s revival has taken many by surprise.
Including his wife.: “It’s all good for me, Yvonne is heavily involved in her
ballet at the moment, giving a week-long course in Hilton, so I can get on with
it.
“I’m not going to tell you how old I am – I’ll just say I’m
close to Sir Alex Ferguson! There you go, you can work it out!”
And with that we cast out minds back to another era – the early
1980s when The Dog was a pioneering force for football under Apartheid.
He grins: “I remember when you and I were involved at Bush
Bucks in Durban in the 1980s. You were part of that campaign that kept football
going. Then you went overseas to Fleet Street – it’s nice to have you back
here!
“You sum it up exactly. We did things that were unthinkable
under Apartheid. I look at it and I think a lot of names should be remembered.
We walked out at Orlando Stadium, they threw things at us, it was a chance to
get even with what was going on at the time.
“A lot of footballers made big sacrifices, they should have
streets named after them. Scotsman Andy Standton, the big goalkeeper Dave
Watterson, little Daniel Ramarutsi… we had big strong lads at Bush Bucks!
“I’ve always argued that was the best side ever put together
in South Africa. Bennet Gondwe, Professor Ngubane, Raul Gonzales (father of
Chile’s Mark Gonzalez)… Mark Tovey at centre-back. Neil was a good player and
captained Bafana to that AFCON but his brother was a better defender.
“Those were great days. I remember you taking Mark Gleeson
to his first game to watch us. Those were pioneering days. It was a dream. The
football was fantastic.
“Those were great times and we’re still going! We must have
a cup of coffee with Lawrence Big Bear Ngubane!”
BOLLOCKZ! my own football show on www.ballz.co.za, airs every Thursday from
9am. See the Ballz channel on www.youtube.com
for our growing collection of interviews with the big names in South African
football.
You can also follow me on www.twitter.com/nealcol for all
the latest sports news… and read my “Neal and Pray” column every Tuesday in
www.thenewage.co.za.
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