South African football fans are eagerly looking forward to the encounter between Bafana Bafana and Kenya, but there is one particular moment that has attracted plenty of attention. Former Bafana Bafana striker Benni McCarthy has opened up about what he plans to do when the South African national anthem is played before the match.

McCarthy, who is currently the head coach of Kenya, will find himself in an unusual position when his team takes on his home country. Although he will be sitting in the opposite dugout, his connection to South Africa remains strong.

The former Bafana Bafana star has confirmed that he will sing the South African national anthem, Nkosi Sikelel’ iAfrika, before the match. He explained that becoming Kenya's coach has not changed his identity or the love he has for his country.

I'm still a South African, and I have done a great deal for my country when it comes to football, so I will sing my national anthem, McCarthy said.

His announcement has made the upcoming encounter even more interesting for Mzansi football supporters. Many fans know McCarthy as one of the country's greatest footballers, particularly because he remains Bafana Bafana's all-time leading goalscorer with 31 international goals.

However, McCarthy has also made it clear that his professional responsibilities come first. While he will proudly sing South Africa's anthem, he will be focused on helping Kenya compete against Bafana Bafana once the match begins.

He admitted that facing his home country brings mixed emotions because South Africa remains his first love. Nevertheless, he cannot allow those feelings to interfere with his job as Kenya's head coach.

The match, scheduled for Friday, 13 November, at Orlando Amstel Arena in Soweto, is part of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign.

For South African supporters, seeing McCarthy sing the national anthem while preparing to lead the opposition will certainly be a special moment. His situation shows that someone can remain proud of their roots while fulfilling professional responsibilities elsewhere.

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