Benni McCarthy was eating ‘rabbit food’ at Orlando Pirates
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Former Orlando Pirates, Blackburn, Porto, Ajax Amsterdam and Celta Vigo striker Benni McCarthy scaled many highs and lows in his illustrious playing career, facing plenty of unnecessary criticism of his weight.
Benni’s rabbit food diet
Benni McCarthy has been harshly criticized for his weight gain since switching from player to coach. It must be difficult to transition from elite athlete to tactician, though. Besides, how many of those throwing shade at Benni are in perfect shape themselves? Not many, I guess.
McCarthy’s bloated figure was the primary reason he parted ways with then-English Premiership club, West Ham, in April 2011. The Hammers ordered him to lose weight in three months to make the squad in the 2010-11 Premier League campaign.
Benni, who hails from Hanover Park township in Cape Town, first played in the domestic Premiership in 1997 for the Cape Town Spurs.
“I’ve changed my lifestyle and eating habits,” he said back in 2011 when he was an Orlando Pirates player.
“I can’t even say how much I weighed because I never wanted to know. When I jumped onto the scale I was only happy to know that my weight was going down.
“I figured out that if I or other players can embark on a healthy diet, one can almost feel younger for longer. Our bodies are our weapons that we must look after.”
McCarthy discusses the Orlando Pirates job
The South African legend discussed the Buccaneers on Radio 2000. Details via FarPost:
“There was [a chance] once upon a time, way before Jose Riveiro came to Pirates,” McCarthy shared. “I did speak with the chairman [Dr. Irvin Khoza]. It was almost a done deal; it was kind of me going back to coach Orlando Pirates.”
“I think it was the Swedish coach [Kjell Jonevret]. I did speak with the chairman [Dr Irvin Khoza]. It was almost a done deal; it was kind of me going back to coach the Orlando Pirates. But I think the Chairman at the last minute decided to go for someone with more experience because, like I said, I didn’t have a lot of coaching experience.
Is Benni a legit contender for the Pirates job one day?
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