Former Bafana coach Clive Barker says the fault lies with Safa
Barker: Safa should have known the rules
Posted: 2011-10-10 09:46
Former Bafana Bafana coach Clive Barker has taken a swipe at Safa after the national team failed to qualify for the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations.
Bafana finished top of Group G on goal difference after playing to a goalless draw against Sierra Leone but, according to CAF rules, they miss out and Niger proceeds.
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With South Africa, Niger and the Leone Stars all finishing on nine points, it came down to head-to-head points instead, which sent Niger through.
Bafana coach Pitso Mosimane and Safa officials, including president Kirsten Nematandani, are disputing the CAF ruling, but Barker, who won the Nations Cup with the national team in 1996, says Safa should have known better.
"Most definitely Safa is to be blame; you can't blame the coach," he tells KickOff.com.
"They should have known the rules and made the coach aware of it. I can't live with the fact that we did not get the rules right.
"The majority of the country thought it would be on goal difference but they should have known the rules before."
Barker also laid some blame on keeper Itumeleng Khune for his delaying tactics during the last few minutes of the match, as he wasted time claiming to be injured, while a win would have sent Bafana through.
"That should have never happened. Khune is our number-one keeper and that was a below par performance from him. The players will have more respect for the game now that they have learnt a big lesson."
Barker, who is technical director at AmaZulu, also insists it is not right for Safa to launch an appeal, as the rules were already in place.
"Why are you appealing against the rules that were in place before the tournament started? Safa should have known the rules. I don't think it is right for them to appeal," he says.



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