‘Players have changed’

KICK OFF: You were born in Lesotho we believe, what is the story behind that?

Steve Barker: Yes, my parents were both working in a casino in Lesotho at the time, though I grew up on a farm in the Free State. Obviously, casinos were not allowed in South Africa at that stage [1967] so my parents lived on the farm but worked across the border in Maseru. When my mother was due to give birth to me she went to the hospital there.

You have a famous uncle in 1996 Africa Cup of Nations winner Clive, but where else did your passion for the game come from?

My whole family was madly into football. Obviously Clive, who has proven himself as a great coach, but my father Lawrie also played, as did their younger brother Arthur. So when you are surrounded by this enjoyment of something, I guess it sticks. My father took me to play for the first time aged five and I would say I quickly developed the love for the game and football became a really important part of my life growing up, and is to this day. Here I still am at the age of 52. Fortunately, I had a bit of talent as a kid, so that really helped with the enjoyment of the game.

“HE WAS OLD SCHOOL BUT EVEN IN TRAINING SESSIONS HE WOULD STILL SHOW US HIS ABILITY ON THE PITCH!”

You did not have what today we would