THURSDAY, 1.15PM:
NATIONAL soccer coach Clive Barker has reached a compromise with the South African Football Association (Safa) over his wage demands and has signed a R50 000-a-month contract to take Bafana Bafana through the World Cup finals in France next June.
After the meeting with Safa on Wednesday, Barker said he is happy that the “soap opera” is over and now he can concentrate on soccer.
Safa president Molefe Oliphant said as part of the new deal Barker will get big incentives and match appearance fees.
He will earn a R500 000 bonus if Bafana Bafana advances to the second round of the World Cup finals. He will get a R10 000 appearance fee and same money for win bonus for every friendly match starting with the game against France in Lens on October 11. He will also get the same money for the game against Brazil at Ellis Park on December 7.
Barker will earn R40 000 for the three group matches of the Intercontinental Cup in Saudi Arabia from December 12 to 21, with a R20 000 win bonus for each win.
For the defence of the African Nations Cup in Burkina Faso next February, he will be paid R20 000 per game and the same amount as a win bonus.
In the World Cup finals, Barker wil recive R20 000 for the three first-round matches and a R500 000 bonus if Bafana Bafana go through to the second round.
“Now I just want to get on with the job of coaching Bafana Bafana,” said a relieved Barker.