Ailing legendary coach Clive Barker’s family going through ‘rough period’

Ailing legendary coach Clive Barker’s son has opened up on the veteran coach’s struggles with health, saying it’s been a ‘rough period’ for the family.

John Barker said seeing his dad’s condition deteriorated even further has been tough on the whole family.

As the South African football fraternity wishes the man also known as ‘’The Dog’ a speedy recovery, John said Clive, who led Bafana Bafana to AFCON glory in 1996 and FIFA World Cup qualification in 1998 was re-admitted to hospital last week and has been diagnosed with Lewy Body Dementia.

Entertainment SA previously reported back in January, that the former Mpumalanga Black Aces and AmaZulu coach was admitted to the hospital.

EWN reports that LBD is a form of dementia that affects a person’s ability to think, reason, and process information.

Speaking to Robert Marawa on #MSW, John gave an update on his father’s condition and the toll that it has taken on the family.

“It’s been a rough period for the family especially as we are all in different parts of the country. He has been moved out of the ICU and into to the general ward, but it’s something that will definitely take its toll on him physically and mentally. He is a fighter and always has been so hopefully he will be around for much longer,” he said.

“He is the most positive person in the world and it doesn’t matter what happens to him, he is still trying to make other people better even in his current situation.

“It’s emotional for all of us because this is a hectic disease that ravages the body pretty quickly and it’s sad to see someone who has been such a brilliant coach, father, and person deteriorate the way he has.”

An award filmmaker, John, indicated that he hopes to put together a documentary about the “golden era” of Bafana between 1994 and 1998 – thus highlighting their massive achievement.

“There are so many great sports stories in South Africa and we don’t tell enough of them. We are writing it at the moment and trying to raise funds because that was one of the great African teams of all time in that period,” he added.

“Those guys should be celebrated because many of them were plying their trade in big European teams and inspired so many people. Hopefully, we can get that done in the next year.”

Main Image: Robert Marawa & Clive Barker/YouTube

The post Ailing legendary coach Clive Barker’s family going through ‘rough period’ appeared first on Entertainment SA - South African Entertainment News, Celebrity and Lifestyle Online Magazine & Entertainment.