Benni McCarthy’s risk-free tantrums

Each time Benni steps out of his area to challenge his counterpart from the other club to a fist fight or an insult-slinging bout, we turn a blind eye and pretend we didn’t hear him speak about someone’s crotch and that of their mother.

The truth is that Benni McCarthy is South African’s special child and he can do no wrong, he is protected at all costs. His shy, warm smile mixed with his wit, personality and sense of humour erases all his indiscretions in the eyes of South Africans.

Benni is our favourite child from the Cape Flats who went on to put South Africa on the map with all his achievements in football in the 90’s and early 2000’s. No family chastises the top achiever in the family, who also happens to be the bread-winner at times, and in Benni’s case the all-time leading goal scorer for a nation that rarely sees 15 goals from a striker in the Absa Premiership every season.

What’s there to say, his wins are bigger than his losses.

McCarthy was a great ambassador for South Africa as a striker, and after his playing days he is the ambassador of our egos and the rebels that live in each of us that sometimes would like to say “stick it to the man” but we play it safe because we have everything to lose. With job, house and income Benni is self-made and doesn’t have those problems.

Benni is admired for his explosive personality and not being afraid to stand out –  in truth we all want to speak our minds just once and not have to pay the price.

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