Benni McCarthy, the former coach of AmaZulu FC, has joined Manchester United. Photo: BackpagePix
SuperSport’s Tembo responds to talk of Benni coming in as coach
SuperSport United coach Kaitano Tembo has reacted to talk linking Benni McCarthy with a sensational move to the club.
Benni McCarthy, the former coach of AmaZulu FC, has joined Manchester United. Photo: BackpagePix
The football fraternity was largely left in shock when Benni McCarthy was unceremoniously axed by AmaZulu recently, with former Swallows mentor Brandon Truter taking over with immediate effect, albeit on an interim basis.
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Many believe it was a premature decision to let McCarthy go, and his representative Rob Moore has already said that the popular coach will only remain coaching in South Africa if there is a “big” club that can match his ambitions.
According to FARPostZA, it was reported last week that they have it on good authority that SuperSport are in talks to possibly bring Matsatsantsa ahead of next season, although it’s unclear what that would mean for Kaitano Tembo.
Some talk suggests that the club icon would not be let go, and will rather be used in a different capacity.
Tembo may be aware of the speculation doing the rounds, but reiterated that it wasn’t worrying him.
“I’m not in control of that, all I have to do is to focus on the job at hand. That’s the only important thing to me,” Tembo said, as quoted by Sowetan Live.
“What is being said out there has nothing to do with me, and [yes] anything can happen in football, so it’s normal, it happens.
“As long as I’m here, I will keep on giving my best. That’s all I can do.”
He added that he hasn’t even checked with the SuperSport bosses to discuss the McCarthy rumours.
“There’s no need to talk about it. It’s something that is coming from outside, so it’s all a speculation and we can’t always act whenever things are said about the club. I don’t think that’s important.
“What’s important for us is that we’ve got six games to go in the league and the Nedbank Cup to fight for.”
Benni’s agent had the following to say when discussing what he would be looking for at his next club:
“His time at AmaZulu was incredibly successful. He took the club to heights that they have never be in history. The club was written about and he ended up being the PSL Coach of the Year, and ended up being offered the Bafana Bafana job,” Moore told Soccer Laduma.
“Benni will see what happens. He will take some time off and spend with his family. He has been away for the last 16 months, so he will go home and spend some time with them.
“He will evaluate what comes next. If he is going to return to South Africa to manage, it must be the club that has the resources that can match his ambitions, otherwise there’s no point in coming back.
“He did it with Cape Town City, he took the club to a fifth place finish, two cup finals and won one. He took AmaZulu from relegation to all the things that they’ve achieved.
“So all those things, he has done, he has proven himself. Now, what’s next for him is a big club, with resources that will say, ‘Benni we want you for three years or so’, that wants to build, otherwise he will look abroad and that’s where he is at and we will just see what the future holds in the coming months,” added Moore.
After learning of his AmaZulu axing, Benni McCarthy is said to have taken some time off
“I would like to sincerely thank the players and the fans for their support since I’ve joined AmaZulu,” McCarthy said in a statement released by the club.
“I feel privileged to have been able to make history with this Club by taking them from the relegation zone to an unprecedented second-place position in the League last season.
“And then taking the Club into the group stages of the Champions League this year for the first time, beating multiple CAF Champions League winners TP Mazembe along the way.
“I wish the Club all the best going forward as they build on this success.”
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