The Buccaneers previously featured in the 2013 CAF Champions League, where they also progressed all the way to the final before losing out to Egyptian giants Al Ahly.
Barker, who guided Bafana Bafana to their one and only Africa Cup of Nations title in 1996, believes the team’s experience in 2013 has proved beneficial in their journey to this year’s Confed Cup final.
“I think [they are doing well] because they’ve played through Africa for a couple of seasons now, and they’ve always come up. [In 2013] they had a fantastic run, and this year they’ve had an even better run,” says ‘The Dog’.
“If you look back even further, they were the reason [for South Africa’s AFCON success], when Jerry Sikhosana scored that fabulous goal [in the CAF Champions Cup final] in 1995.”
The former AmaZulu mentor, who turned 71 in June, has faith Pirates have the quality in their squad and technical team to see them lift the continental crown come the end of November.
“Messages of support have gone out throughout the whole of South Africa, I think they know what they want and who to support.
“Pirates are going to have to deliver on the day, which I have no doubt they will. They’ve got a quality team, quality coach, and a quality setup,” he concludes.