Bafana Bafana legend Linda "Mercedes Benz" Buthelezi shares how he'll always remember how the late Clive Barker saved his football career when many others doubted him.
The only coach to guide Bafana to both an AFCON title and World Cup qualification, Barker sadly died on Saturday at the age of 78.
"Clive was a very resourceful and the most courageous person," Buthelezi tells KickOff.
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"What I will always remember about him is the way he protected me when I first got to the national team.
"I had decided to quit football and focus on my studies when he convinced me. I had a fight with some club managers.
"My meeting with Clive was about his commitment if he was going to protect me.
"So, he promised to protect me. It was a give-and-take relationship between us.
"In the 27 times I played for the national team, we never lost. Until today, I've never asked him why he loved me.
"We had an agreement to look out for each other. That's why he ended up giving me the nickname "Mercedes Benz".