Benni McCarthy is a ‘terrible loser’ – and has a tough AmaZulu mandate

Former Bafana Bafana striker Benni McCarthy has been tasked with turning AmaZulu into one of South Africa’s leading clubs.

‘WINNING MENTALITY’ GOT MCCARTHY THE JOB

AmaZulu president Sandile Zungu said McCarthy’s winning mentality was one of the main reasons he was hired by the KwaZulu-Natal side.

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McCarthy’s high profile, and the potential he has to inspire up-and-coming players, is what made him the obvious choice for Zungu, who is in the process of revolutionising AmaZulu after taking over the club earlier this year.

“We want young players to associate themselves with playing in Europe and being part of this brand called Bafana Bafana, which Benni has done so much for, we want players to see it is possible to reach these goals by being coached by Benni,” Zungu said at McCarthy’s unveiling on Monday.

Usuthu are hoping that McCarthy will propel the side into the top echelons of South African football by the time the season ends in May 2021.

“Benni is a terrible loser and we want to win and be the top brand in soccer going forward,” Zungu said.

“There are great brands and we want to be among them. We are aiming for a top-four finish this season, we have the players to achieve this.”

MCCARTHY INTENDS DEVELOPING YOUNGSTERS

Meanwhile, McCarthy spoke of his desire to “have the same history as Chiefs and Pirates” and added that his “goals stretch far beyond the top four.”

McCarthy confirmed that he intends helping to develop young players.

“The President and the club did not have to sell me this vision. The fact that they want to not only impact the current squad of players but also the younger players who are still building their careers, because I was once a young player myself. And it’s important that we support those players. I’m highly optimistic that we will achieve the goals we have set for ourselves.”

Cape Town-born former Cape Town City FC head coach, McCarthy is Bafana Bafana’s all-time leading goal scorer with 31 goals in 80 matches for the national team.

He has enjoyed tremendous success as a player both in South Africa and abroad.

McCarthy was a member of the victorious Champions League Porto side in 2003/04 and also played for Dutch giants Ajax Amsterdam and Blackburn Rovers and West Ham during his time in England.

KWAZULU-NATAL DERBY FIRST UP

McCarthy’s first match at the helm of AmaZulu is on Wednesday, December 16 in a KwaZulu-Natal derby against Golden Arrows at Kings Park Stadium.

Kick-off is at 17:30.

AmaZulu are currently in 11th place in the standings after six matches with six points.

Those points came via a single victory, three draws and two defeats.

Golden Arrows, meanwhile, are in seventh-place with eight points. They are undefeated after six matches, but have been draw specialists with one win and as many as five stalemates to date.