The family of legendary former Bafana Bafana manager Clive Barker said the 1996 Africa Cup of Nations winner was “in good spirits” after suffering an aneurysm, which affected the blood flowing from his heart.
The 78-year-old’s family released a statement on Thursday saying the man who led South Africa to its only men’s continental title was currently undergoing rehabilitation after successful heart surgery.
The family also said they were “deeply moved” by the outpouring of support received after news of Barker’s illness broke.
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Full family statement:
On behalf of our family, we would like to provide an update on the well-being of beloved former Bafana Bafana manager Clive Barker.
Clive recently underwent surgery to restore normal flow through his aorta, the main artery that carries blood from the heart to the rest of the body, after suffering an aneurysm.
He is now in rehab at an intermediate care facility and is expected to be able to return home soon.
Clive is in good spirits and positive about his journey to recovery, saying: “I feel like I’m in one of the pre-season training sessions my players had to endure when I was training.”
The Barker family would like to express our sincere thanks to the doctors and healthcare professionals at St Augustine’s and Entabeni Hospitals who have worked tirelessly in Clive’s treatment.
We are deeply moved by the prayers and support expressed by colleagues, players, friends and fans.
We recognize that there is a strong public interest in Clive’s well-being, but we request the family’s privacy at this time. The family will update his health status via a press release at a later stage.
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