You ‘cannot buy’ Benni’s experience

BENNI MCCARTHY has made rapid progress as a coach. In just two seasons in charge of Cape Town City, he has steered the team to two cup finals, and they finished fifth on the PSL standings last season. Last week he received his Uefa Pro Licence, the highest coaching qualification in Europe.

But all of the above is on paper. For insight into the inner workings of McCarthy with regards to how he prepares his squad, then the people to ask are his two assistant coaches: Vasili Manousakis and Rayaan Jacobs.

“Benni’s strengths are his knowledge of the game,” said Manousakis. “He can draw on the football experience he picked up from playing at the level that he has. He’s tasted all kinds of football and he’s played under world-class managers; he’s been with the SA national team, where he’s played all over Africa. You cannot buy that type of experience.

“Most of all, though, his biggest asset is his desire to succeed. He is a born winner. It’s probably something he would have had when he first went overseas as a teenager and told himself, ‘I’m gonna make it’. Even in gaining the prestigious Uefa Pro Licence, it would have been the same attitude: when he puts his mind to something, he goes out and gets it.”

Jacobs said: “He’s an honest coach, he speaks from the heart and all his messages are packed with emotion and desire. It’s clear to see why he made it as a player – he has a winning mentality. At training, he strives for excellence and gets upset when players don’t give 100 percent.”

But coaching is also about personality, understanding and empathy. McCarthy understands the need for inclusivity.

“It is a privilege to work with Benni,” said Manousakis. “I can tell you that he gets to know us as people. He wants to know who you are. He is interested in you, your family, your kids, and he’s very good at picking up when anybody around him is not feeling well; he notices behavioural changes. As a coach, he is smart.”