With LaLiga side Celta Vigo recently launching their official academy in South Africa, the Spanish club has stated that they are proud to have had Bafana Bafana's all-time top goalscorer Benni McCarthy play for Los Celestes.
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The Spanish outfit recently established a formal partnership with South African organisation Evaton Celta Academy.
Based in the township of Evaton on the outskirts of Johannesburg, it was founded by chairman Themba Dlamini in 2001 to honour McCarthy, who, at the time, was plying his trade for the Galician club.
The 2003/04 UEFA Champions League winner represented Celta Vigo for three years before moving on, and during his time in Spain, he found the back of the net 27 times in 97 appearances for the LaLiga side.
Speaking exclusively to Soccer Laduma, Celta academy delegate Marcos Alonso spoke on the legacy the legendary striker left at the Balaidos Stadium.
"He played during the good years of the UEFA Europa [League], playing against Juventus in this time," Alonso said.
"He scored two goals in the comeback against Juventus during the 4-0 win at the Balaidos Stadium, two goals against [Edwin] van der Sar.
"He was involved also in the 7-0 win against Benfica in the UEFA Cup, so we are very proud to have had him in our team for those seasons. He scored a lot of goals, especially in the first months of the league.
"He played really, really well at a top level. Then his performances were low, then high. A lot of peaks with his performances.
"The memory of Benni McCarthy at the club is really good because we have the best player ever of South African football, so we must be very proud."
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Alonso also expressed the expectations for the newly established relationship, withCelta Vigo and Evaton Celta saying that they will not only be developing players but also coaches in South Africa.
"Today is the first step. We are now in the academy, making reports about the needs, things to improve," he added.
"Then after that we are going to work together in terms of teaching their coaches about how we work and to try and implement it here with their teams.
"I know the profile of the South African player is not the same as the Spanish one but they do not have to use 100% of our knowledge; even if 50% is useful, we are going to be very happy about that."
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