Benni McCarthy pictured during his time as Cape Town City FC head coach. McCarthy has been strongly linked with a move to Mamelodi Sundowns FILE - Benni McCarthy pictured during his time as Cape Town City FC head coach. McCarthy has been strongly linked with a move to Mamelodi Sundowns. Photo: Rodger Bosch/AFP
AmaZulu fans want Benni McCarthy back their club following the sacking of Pablo Franco Martin. However, it seems Mamelodi Sundowns may have the inside lane for the former striker’s signature.
Usuthu announced Martin’s departure on their social media channels late on Monday evening after only three matches into the new season in the Betway Premiership.
Three straight defeats has seen AmaZulu slip to the bottom of the table behind 15th-placed TS Galaxy, who have also lost all three of their opening matches but have a better goal difference than the Durban side.
AmaZulu finished in 11th position in the previous campaign in Martin’s first season in charge. However, he got the sack just 15 months into his three-year deal after a winless start to the season.
Ever since AmaZulu parted ways with Benni McCarthy life has not been the same...Yoh pic.twitter.com/Ah9h0AKGn0
— MK🏴☠️✊🏾 (@tshepo_makoko) October 1, 2024
According to KickOff, current AmaZulu DStv Diski Challenge coach Vusumuzi Vilakazi is one of the favourites to take over from Martin.
Vilakazi helped Richards Bay survive the drop last season during the promotion-relegation playoffs, but was let go shortly afterwards.
However, AmaZulu fans want their Benni back, especially after he guided them to second in the Premiership standings and CAF Champions League football during his first stint at the club.
But it’s hard to see the former Bafana Bafana striker going to back to Durban, as he may have bigger fish to fry elsewhere.
The fish doesn’t come any bigger than Mamelodi Sundowns as far as South African football is concerned. Rumours have been swirling around that McCarthy has been on the defending league champions’ radar ever since they parted ways with Rhulani Mokwena in the off-season.
Manqoba Mngqithi was handed the Sundowns reigns before the start of new campaign, but, according to various reports, Sundowns have been in contact with McCarthy, who left Manchester United at the end of last season.
McCarthy landed in the country this week, giving many people the idea that something may be brewing.
In a recent interview with CNN Sports, McCarthy was coy about his future following his departure from Old Trafford, even mentioning the MLS in the United States as a possible option.
“What’s next for me?” McCarthy said. “I think, of course, it’s clear the fact that after leaving United, I think that passion for wanting to be a head coach again, that brewed through, and I think that is the next step for me.
It’s good to be back @ManUtd pic.twitter.com/UsmLEuJCLC
— Benni McCarthy (@bennimccarthy17) July 17, 2023
“So, whether it’s to go back to Africa, the African continent, to manage one of the big teams, the important teams, with the knowledge that I’ve gained, I think, yeah, that would be amazing, to manage a team on the continent and then trying to make them also one of the powerhouses in African football.
“But also, to try and achieve, as to reach a final when you play in the Club World Cup.
“That would be the aim, to do that, or even the MLS interests me a lot. Opportunities like that, I would welcome, because I think I’ve got what it takes to manage there, to make players better and to help teams achieve goals that they’ve maybe not achieved in last few years with their clubs.
“It’s just about getting the opportunity.”
Time will tell where McCarthy will end up next. But that could be sooner, rather than later.
IOL Sport