‘He Had Me Running Scared’ - Benni McCarthy Reveals How African Player Sent Chills Down His Spine

Harambee Stars boss Benni McCarthy has recounted a chilling encounter with an African defender who scared him so much that he asked to be taken off the pitch.

Harambee Stars coach Benni McCarthy was a revered striker during his playing days as he scared defenders with his skills and goalscoring prowess but not one man.

McCarthy, who played for top teams in Europe such as Dutch giants Ajax Amsterdam, Celta Vigo in Spain, Portuguese giants FC Porto and Blackburn Rovers in the English Premier League, scored goals for fun, leading his teams to numerous titles.

He is also South Africa’s all-time top scorer and is one of the men credited with Orlando Pirates’ last league title in 2012 when he scored crucial goals during that season.

PAY ATTENTION: Stay updated with the Latest Sports News in Kenya from Pulse Sports

However, even he met his waterloo and in a recent interview, he recounted how an African defender scared him to death after a tackle that had him asking for a substitution.

“The player who scared me, the only player that made me ask the manager to change was a player I played against in the Europa League,” McCarthy said on the Added Time Podcast.

Which Player Left Benni McCarthy Fearing the Worst?

“He played for Celtic, Bobo Balde. Bobo Balde hit me with one tackle and made me do a summersault and after that tackle, I think I must have switched positions. I went to play left wing, right wing and I came back to striker,” McCarthy said of the French-born defender, who made over 50 appearances for Guinea.

“I just could not and I asked the coach to be changed and he had me running scared and that was the only time I ever was frightened in a match. The worst thing was, we were two Africans, I thought he was my brother!

“Africans we kind of look after each other but he went all in on me that day and he took me out and he had me running scared. No other defender in my whole career made me feel like that,” added the Harambee Stars boss.

Balde played for Celtic between 2001 and 2009, making 233 appearances for the Scottish giants, and met McCarthy when he turned out for Celta Vigo in the UEFA Cup (now Europa League) in 2002.

Celtic won the first leg 1-0 at home in November 2002 before Celta claimed a 2-1 victory in the return leg the following month. McCarthy was among the substitutes in the first leg but started the return leg, scoring the opening goal for the Spanish side.