COLONEL KEN Barnes, the Trinidadian who captained Jamaica's football team during the early 1960s, has died. Barnes passed away at his St Andrew home Thursday evening, his wife Jean told The Gleaner.

She said her husband of 48 years succumbed to prostate cancer. He had been diagnosed with the disease just over two years ago.

Ken Barnes is the father of John Barnes, head coach of the Jamaica Football Federation team. The younger Barnes was a star player with Watford and Liverpool in the former English division one league and played in two World Cups for England.

Barnes senior, who was born in Port-of-Spain, came to Jamaica in 1956 and joined the Jamaica Defence Force. He served the army for 33 years.

He captained Jamaica's team at a time when movement throughout the Caribbean by sportsmen and musicians was common.

Later, Barnes served as president of the Jamaica Swimming Association and the Jamaica Boxing Board of Control (JBBC).

Yesterday, JBBC president, William Tavares-Finson, issued a statement recognising Barnes as "a great man" who will "never be forgotten".

Ken Barnes is also survived by daughters Gillian and Tracy.

- Howard Campbell