Benni joins coaching elite
Uefa Pro licence enhances CV
Benni McCarthy became the latest coach to join the exclusive club of tacticians who hold a Uefa Pro licence in the PSL.
The qualification is the highest and most respected a coach can have in football outside of the academic route, which would be more theory based.
McCarthy, 40, is the first black South African coach to meet the grade and only the third overall behind Zeca Marques and Mich d’Avary.
The Cape Town-born rookie mentor had an impressive first season with Cape Town City in the Absa Premiership. The Mother City club finished fifth and were runners-up in the MTN8.
With McCarthy having returned to Scotland for a holiday to be with his wife and kids, club boss John Comitis applauded him for his accomplishment.
“It was a very risky decision but with this comes big returns and we believe we are well on our way to getting the results we want,” Comitis said.
“During the season we have had to accommodate him as he completed the final stage of his course. He missed one or two games because we wanted him to develop his career further.”
Comitis admitted that the expectation next season will be for McCarthy to deliver trophies.
“This previous season was the honeymoon period, next season will be all about titles and winning, nothing less,” he added.
McCarthy has been linked with a move away from City, with SuperSport United reportedly interested in him.
Comitis, the former Ajax
‘ ‘ Next season will be all about titles and winning
Cape Town honcho, expressed confidence that the club will be able to hold on to the coach.
“I am not surprised that he would be linked with another club but I am confident he will stay with us. City is a big club and there are many coaches itching to work with us but for now we are happy with Benni,” Comitis concluded. There are a few SA coaches who are one stage away from acquiring a Pro licence. These are coaches with the Uefa A licence like Gavin Hunt, Eric Tinkler and Shaun Bartlett. Muhsin Ertugral (Uefa Pro Licence)
Zeca Marques (Uefa Pro Licence, Sport psychology) Stuart Baxter (Uefa Pro Licence)
Luc Eymael (Uefa Pro Licence)
Highly qualified coaches in SA: