Mosimane urges Bafana to respect McCarthy's experience and coaching pedigree

BAFANA Bafana coach Pitso Mosimane has warned his players not to take Benni McCarthy’s Kenya lightly.

South Africa is preparing for back-to-back 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) qualifying clashes against Kenya, coached by former Bafana striker McCarthy.

The first match is scheduled for Orlando Amstel Arena in Soweto on Friday, 13 November, with the return fixture set to take place in Kenya on Tuesday, 17 November.

Mosimane praised McCarthy’s coaching credentials and winning mentality.

He warned that an emotional Kenyan side could give Bafana a serious test.

The former Mamelodi Sundowns coach said McCarthy’s personality, experience and hunger to succeed make him a coach who deserves respect.

“You have to be very careful because sometimes players play for their coach, and you can get a bigger surprise than you ever imagined. Be careful when playing an emotional team, especially one that has nothing to lose,” Mosimane said.

He also pointed to McCarthy’s experience at the highest level, including his time at Manchester United, where he worked with some of the biggest names in football.

“You have to respect Benni as a coach. He’s a good coach. He coached at Manchester United, something that many coaches in South Africa would wish to do. He also worked with Cristiano Ronaldo.

“You have to respect the level at which he has coached and the level at which he has played. Not many people on the continent have achieved what he has achieved in football,” he stated.

Mosimane said Kenya also has international players based in several European countries.

He insisted Bafana cannot afford to think the job is done before the two matches are played.

The coach used Cape Verde’s rise at international level as a reminder that reputations mean little once the whistle blows.

He said South Africa must stay focused and disciplined until the final whistle.

“I don’t live in the space of complacency. I’ve lost many games in my career against teams that were at the bottom of the log, teams nobody expected to win.

“You have to respect your opponents. Until the referee blows the final whistle, you cannot say you have won the game,” Mosimane added.

With McCarthy eager to make his mark with Kenya, Mosimane knows Bafana will need to be sharp, focused and ready for a fight.