The Dog: I want to help Santana win the World Cup October 7, 2009 Usuthu technical advisor Clive Barker chats to amazulufc.net on his recent ‘call-up’ to the national team.

The week’s break in Premiership action means Usuthu coach Neil Tovey’s focus is on equipping his troops for their next clash against Jomo Cosmos on Wednesday.

The limelight this weekend is on the international matches lined where Bafana Bafana go up against Norway.

In this, the 4th edition of The Dogg Barks, the African Nations Cup of 1996-winning coach Clive Barker takes us through the expectations and his latest “Bafana Bafana call-up”.

“I got a call on Tuesday late in the afternoon from SAFA CEO Raymond Hack asking me whether I would be interested in working with Gavin Hunt and Jomo Sono in helping Bafana Bafana in their quest to be successful in the 2010 World Cup.

“I think what the president and SAFA have shown is the feeling which I had made public in that I believe that local coaches have achieved by far the best record in coaching not only the national team, but also at club level.

“All we want to do is to help Joel Santana in his quest to win the World Cup. It won’t be backstabbing, he will hear directly from us, rather than through different parties. I think what this means as well is that the image of Bafana Bafana and South Africa will be enhanced.

“I think that it is important for the confidence of the players if the whole nation got behind them and perhaps get the same kind of support of the 1996 team.

“Looking at Norway, the upcoming opposition, it is going to be difficult playing them away from home. They have just been beaten Scotland 4-0, the only time we played we beat them 2-1.

“It is important for us to get a good result to start things off nicely and building from Santana’s good work.

“Amajita played excellently at the FIFA Under 2010 World Cup they were just unfortunately knocked out by a hard fighting Ghana, but they played their hearts out.

"South African Football is on the rise, beyond 2010.”