McCarthy coaches his team to victory
I never did it on my own
BENNI MCCARTHY was a Cape Town hero as a player and now he is a Cape Town hero all over again – as a coach.
McCarthy, who won fame and acclaim on the South African, Europe and international stages, led his Cape Town City team to a memorable 4-1 MTN8 triumph over Supersport in Durban on Saturday night.
As his City team proudly lifted the trophy into the night sky, McCarthy was enjoying the spectacular achievement of winning his first title as a coach, little more than a year into the job.
“Winning this Cup has to be right up there with the (Uefa) Champions League, scoring four goals in the Africa Cup of Nations, scoring at the World Cup.
“This one has got to be right there. I’m no longer the one who knows what I’m going to do in the field of play. Now I’m having to coach players,” McCarthy said.
It was also a great weekend on the rugby front. A young Western Province team, who have the set the pace in the Currie Cup from round one, scored seven wonderful tries as they thrilled their Newlands fans with a 50-28 dismantling of a much more experienced Sharks team.
“It’s really special to put 50 points past the Sharks at Newlands,” said a happy WP coach John Dobson.
And just to top off a memorable weekend, the Springboks beat Australia 23-13 at a packed Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth to secure second spot in the Rugby Championship.
BENNI McCarthy earned multiple accolades and titles during his career as a player, and ranked his maiden triumph as a coach amongst those glory days which saw him become a household name in Africa and Europe.
Coach McCarthy joined Cape Town City last season as a novice, but after just one year he has earned his first piece of silverware with the Citizens.
Last season, his side succumbed to a penalty defeat in the MTN8 Final against SuperSport United in Durban.
It was painful for McCarthy but he never gave up. This past weekend he returned to the stadium that saw him missing out on his first trophy against the same opponents, and boy did he enjoyed sweat revenge.
City defeated United 4-1 on penalties after the game ended 0-0 following extra time.
McCarthy defined his first piece of silverware as one of his most memorable moments in football.
“It is right on top as a coach. This is my first cup. This one has got its own merit. I never did it on my own. As coaches we have to manage 30 players. You’ve to manage different egos and personalities. It has to be right up there with the (Uefa) Champions League, scoring four goals in the Africa Cup of Nations, scoring at the World Cup... This one has got to be right there. I’m no longer the one who knows what I’m going to do in the field of play. Now I’m having to coach players,” McCarthy said as he rejoiced in the victory.
During his career, McCarthy earned multiple trophies, including the Uefa Champions League and league titles with FC Porto in Portugal and Ajax Amsterdam in The Netherlands.
The all-time leading scorer for Bafana Bafana represented his country in two Fifa World Cups, the Olympic Games and the Africa Cup of Nations. He also won cups during his spell with Orlando Pirates.
“I don’t look at it as myself. It was a collective effort from players, assistant coaches and my fitness coach. We are a bunch of young guys. Everyone is working tirelessly.
“I’m just the ‘face’ and the one who gets shots when we lose. When we win, it is a team effort. As coaches we are all in this business to win things. If you are not winning you are out of your job,” he added.
McCarthy will be hoping to attain as much success as coach like he did as a player.
“This will open up doors for young coaches, because I’ve come in and many people say you got to pay your dues, and have five years or ten years in the job before you even get close to winning your first title.
“In my first year, I lost in the final and in the second year I got over the line. When you work hard and put in the effort and study the books and analyse the opposition I don’t think young coaches can fail. You mustn’t be afraid to fail,” McCarthy elaborated.