Former teammates back McCarthy
He’s a coach for Pirates… Patrick Malokase – Former Pirates teammate
“Without a doubt, Benni would be the right man for Pirates, and they need someone like him to take the team to the next level. Benni, for one, is a winner wholeheartedly and he takes his job very seriously. Being a coach at Pirates needs someone like him, someone who wants to win at all costs. I remember at AmaZulu FC, he had always been asking for his squad to be beefed up. He was not assisted to his standards, but he still managed to finish second with the club last season and he got them to the Champions League group stage this season. So, with the resources and players at Pirates, he can only do better. Another thing about Benni is that he’s got a thick skin. I know Pirates supporters can put one under pressure, but he can take it and he can take on the big guns. Benni knows the dynamic at Pirates and he is a person who has handled it before, and he can handle it (alleged interference) as a coach. He knows what’s happening at Pirates and I think he can handle it with ease. We’ve been having a lot of conversations from way back and I know he has always wanted to coach Pirates. Honestly, I think this is the time for him to go there. He’s a coach for Pirates because he’s not afraid to take chances and challenges. The two coaches (Mandla Ncikazi and Fadlu Davids) have not done too badly for Pirates, but I think Benni would add value and those two guys can still be with the club. It’s been proven at (Mamelodi) Sundowns that it can work. Benni can be there (as head coach) and add value with the two guys.”
Pirates’ problem is not the coach Dikgang Mabalane – Former Pirates teammate
“Benni has this fearless character and he’s been like that. I don’t see him changing that. Now, you ask yourself, can the players connect with that character? Will they understand the demand that comes with someone who has won almost everything in his career? You must remember he comes with that profile because he knows what he wants. He wants players who have the same attitude and hunger as him. Benni dreams big and that’s what you need to have when you work with him. Players who have not tasted the European style of coaching, they would crack working with him. Benni’s character comes from a good place, it comes from demanding only the best. There are players who want to be treated with kid gloves. Ruud Krol was there. He was a mad man. He used to shout, he was aggressive and he was not easily impressed, but look what happened! There was success. But sometimes when you get a coach like that, some players can’t take it, and then the coach has to leave because two or three individuals don’t like the coach. And that’s what happens. But Benni won’t settle for less and he won’t change. But also with Benni, it’s not about whether he would fit or not. At Pirates, the technical team is not the problem. Benni could go there and things don’t go well. Would we then say, again, that it’s the technical team? People who understand football can probably see that Pirates’ problem is not the coach. But we need to be careful about these things because there are coaches at Pirates. Or maybe rope him in and they can work together. They are all young and maybe it can give you a different approach.”