Benni deserves to coach Bafana

Three years ago, legendary Bafana Bafana striker Benni McCarthy said he had no desire to “die an old man” with his 31-goal international scoring record unbeaten. He would like nothing better, he said, than to see himself deposed from that top spot.

Sadly, though, he didn’t see anyone on the horizon likely to achieve that feat.

McCarthy – let’s just call him Benni – was that rare combination of almost supernatural talent and down-to-earth determination to succeed.

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Those are just the sort of traits which have been in short supply at Bafana Bafana for years. Let’s be fair – we have had some talent, but the killer instinct which sees footballs slammed into the back of nets, has been woefully lacking.

Now that the national football team is looking for a new coach – following the sacking of the hapless (because it wasn’t solely his fault) Molefi Ntseki – Benni has indicated he is interested in the job.

More than that, he told BBC Sport, he would seriously consider the job, because “nothing would make me prouder than to manage my country and qualify us to a World Cup tournament.”

Benni always had “the right stuff”… once as a player, now, hopefully, as a coach?