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Cape Town - Veteran tactician Clive Barker admits he is delighted to see so many past players coming up through the coaching ranks in the Premier Soccer League.
The current Mpumalanga Black Aces mentor has also previously held the reins of Bafana Bafana, where he coached the likes of Roger de Sa and Steve Komphela, who currently occupy the hot seats at Ajax Cape Town and Maritzburg United respectively.
Barker also has a family connection in the PSL, with nephew Steve currently heading University of Pretoria, and the boss admits it is a delight to have so many familiar faces around him.
“Marvellous isn't it,” he beamed ahead of Saturday's clash against Ajax Cape Town, which will see him come up against De Sa, a former Bafana Bafana goalkeeper who trained under Barker.
The coach also recently faced both Steves Komphela and Barker in Aces' last two Premiership outings, and he is keen to see even more past players make the breakthrough to coaching.
He said: “Long may it last, but knowing them in their playing days doesn't give me an edge over them. In fact, they are all younger, quicker and smarter than me and they all know how to use a cellphone,” joked the 70-year-old.
On a more serious note, he added: “We played really well over the last four games and we got two good away draws.
“We are looking forward to the challenge of Ajax because they play a good quality of football with an offensive mindset."
Black Aces take on Ajax Cape Town at the Mbombela Stadium on Saturday, September 27 at 15:00.
