The story behind the scenes

Would Benni be the right fit for Chiefs?

Chiefs passed up on the opportunity to sign him as a player when he returned to the country in 2011 – but will they do so again this time as a coach?

Amakhosi reportedly expressed an interest in McCarthy before eventually deciding on Baxter, for his second spell, and that shows that they are aware of what he has to offer as a coach.

One concern for Chiefs could be Benni’s outspoken nature. Amakhosi’s marketing team place a high importance on the brand and the public opinion of the brand, and with that in mind, the coach’s frankness will be something that they will need to manage.

In aligning their mutual objectives, it could be the perfect mix. Chiefs want to get back to winning ways and Benni has proven that he has got what it takes to win.

Amakhosi do have the financial muscle to support the coach, though it is uncertain if the coach would have complete freedom to bring in the players he wants, or if it would be dictated by management.

The fit could be perfect if they are on the same page…

McCarthy’s outspoken nature a concern for Pirates?

While the jury is still out on Orlando Pirates cocoaches Fadlu Davids and Mandla Ncikazi’s time at the helm, two independent sources close to the club’s dealings have indicated that McCarthy’s appointment at this point in time is highly unlikely.

That is because Davids and Ncikazi are still part of the club’s plans and indications are that McCarthy’s outspoken nature would be a concern for the club.

Benni has never shied away from sharing his thoughts, often seen as controversial, whether it being criticizing the players or the officiating.

Pirates, as a club, are adamant on never bringing the club or league into disrepute, and there is a concern that McCarthy’s outspoken nature could be in contrast with this approach.

Situations can change very quickly in football, so a move for Benni cannot be ruled out completely, though at this point in time it seems highly unlikely.

Where Does Bafana fit into the picture?

McCarthy has in recent media interviews stated that he is still too young to leave the day-to-day demands of club football to take over the national team, which renders his chances of becoming the next Bafana Bafana head coach relatively slim. Prior to the appointment of Hugo Broos, he was poised to take over the Bafana head coaching role and had agreed to a deal in principle with SAFA to take over the job as reported by the Siya crew. The stumbling block, however, came in when McCarthy requested to bring his own backroom staff on board, something that the SAFA hierarchy did not agree with. In addition, SAFA would have had to fork out a R2 million compensation fee to AmaZulu at the time, something that the country’s Football Association were not willing to do.

McCarthy is available on a free now, with no compensation needed, but with Broos at the helm, SAFA are not wanting to make any changes at the moment.

Benni is widely considered to be a future national team coach, though the timing may not be right at this point in time.

European reunion a possibility?

McCarthy, who is a UEFA Pro Licence holder, has previously worked in Europe. At the start of his coaching career, in 2015, he worked as an assistant coach to Chris O’ Loughlin at Belgian Pro League side Saint-Truiden.

Then in 2019, after parting ways with Cape Town City, McCarthy was shortlisted for a job in the Scottish Premiership at Heart of Midlothian, but narrowly missed out to former Barnsley coach Daniel Standel.

In the same period, McCarthy confirmed in local media that there were options for him in Portugal, while he was also linked with St Mirren in Scotland.

It’s no secret that Benni does harbour ambitions to coach in Europe and you can expect Moore to offer his services abroad.