Former Orlando Pirates and Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder, Lebohang "Cheeseboy" Mokoena, has voiced his support for Benni McCarthy to take the helm at Kaizer Chiefs, suggesting the former Bafana Bafana striker could usher in a new era of success at Naturena.
With McCarthy's tenure as a striker's coach at Manchester United reportedly nearing its conclusion, Mokoena believes McCarthy's hypothetical transition to Amakhosi could have a transformative impact on the club. In an exclusive interview with Soccer Laduma, Mokoena highlighted McCarthy's proven track record and his ability to command respect in the dressing room as key factors that make him an ideal candidate for the Chiefs coaching position.
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"I think it's the right time and the right team for Benni (McCarthy) to step up in his coaching career. He proved it at Cape Town City where he won a trophy and at AmaZulu where he finished second in the league and took the team to the group stages of the CAF Champions League. It's time to step up at a big team like Kaizer Chiefs. They should give him the chance and trust in him. He plays direct football and has good team management which is needed at a club like Chiefs. For me, seriously speaking, he could have been the right coach for Chiefs right now," Mokoena told the Siya crew.
Mokoena also pointed out the respect and admiration young players have for McCarthy, stemming from his illustrious career as both a player and a coach. This respect, Mokoena argues, would be instrumental in McCarthy's ability to influence and guide the younger generation at Chiefs.
"The young players respect him. They adore him for what he has achieved which is a bonus for the club. He also can control the dressing room because of that respect that the players have for him."
To complement McCarthy's potential appointment, Mokoena suggests Chiefs should bolster their squad with four or five experienced players who have a history of winning trophies, to blend with the club's youth and build a competitive team.
"The only thing that Chiefs would do is to sign four or five players who have been there and done that. Players who have won trophies before. For now, apart from Itumeleng Khune and maybe two or three players, who else has that pedigree? They are old players but not with that winning experience. So, Benni would mix the youth at the club with those six or so experienced players to build a formidable team to compete for silverware that the club deserves. He would also control too much showboating and play a direct result-oriented game that the club supporters would appreciate at the end of the day. So, yeah if Chiefs haven't yet got their coach and Benni is not staying at Manchester United, then why not give him the chance?" Mokoena asked Soccer Laduma.
Mokoena's endorsement of McCarthy comes at a crucial time for Chiefs, as the club looks to revitalize its fortunes and reconnect with its legacy of success. With McCarthy's potential availability and his direct, result-oriented approach to football, Mokoena believes the time is ripe for Chiefs to consider the celebrated former striker for their top coaching role.
Though, Siya sources have recently indicated that AS FAR Rabat head coach, Nasreddine Nabi is the favourite to be chosen as Amakhosi's next mentor, though an agreement has not been sealed yet.
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