Benni McCarthy: Harambee Stars Coach Rules Himself Out of Bafana Bafana Job, Endorses Pitso Mosimane

Harambee Stars coach Benni McCarthy has explained why he is not ready to coach the South African national football team, Bafana Bafana, yet, as he backed Pitso Mosimane for the role.

Current Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos announced that he would leave the role after the 2026 FIFA World Cup, and South Africa’s Football Association will be in the hunt for a coach.

Fans have given their preferences, but Benni McCarthy has since explained why he will not be taking up the role, as he revealed why Pitso Mosimane needs to be given a second chance.

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Benni McCarthy noted that he believes Pitso Mosimane would be the right successor to Hugo Broos at the South Africa national soccer team, stressing that Mosimane has earned another chance to lead the national side.

The Harambee Stars coach explained that Pitso Mosimane’s achievements, both locally and internationally, set him apart as one of the country’s most accomplished tacticians. He noted that the veteran coach has consistently delivered success wherever he has worked, building a reputation that commands global respect.

Benni McCarthy added that Mosimane has played a key role in raising the profile of South African football abroad, much like he did as a player in Europe, by creating pathways and credibility for others to follow.

According to Benni McCarthy, Pitso Mosimane’s earlier stint with the national team came when he was still developing in his managerial journey, but the experience and insight he has since gained make him a far stronger candidate now.

“Coach Pitso has my vote for that. I think he deserves another opportunity. He's the most prestigious coach to have come out of this country. You know, he's done amazing. He's done remarkably well wherever he's gone. His record speaks for itself, and he's opening the doors as I did in football as a player,” Benni McCarthy told Robert Marawa on 947 Joburg.

“Opening the doors for South African players to Europe so that they can have the same kind of products. They want to have those talented football players coming from South Africa. When it comes to coaching, Coach Pitso has done that. Open the doors for us, you know, to be able to go there.

“And I think he was young; he was fresh into his coaching career when he got that opportunity to manage after 2010. I think now the experience, the knowledge that he's gained, he would be my he would be my ideal coach for Bafana. If they decide to go in that direction.”

Benni McCarthy further described his time with Harambee Stars as an incredible and rewarding experience, but admitted he feels he is still too young to be away from daily coaching for extended periods, noting that with Bafana Bafana, it will be the same.

He explained that he thrives on working with players every day on the training ground, developing talent and making consistent improvements, something he feels is limited at the international level due to infrequent camps and short preparation windows.

Benni McCarthy noted that going months without seeing players and then having only a brief period to implement ideas has been challenging.

He added that while he may consider a return to national team football later in his career, similar to Hugo Broos, he is now eager to move back into club management, where he can have a more hands-on and continuous impact.

“As I said, this experience in Kenya has been unbelievable. It's been remarkable, it has been nice, but I think I'm still I'm too young to go so long without being active. I'm every day on the training pitch. Smell the grass. I want to improve players,” Benni McCarthy shared.

“I want to give, and I feel that it is holding me back from doing that because you don't have enough time with players, like I've not seen them in three months. When I see them, I'm only going to have a week to do what I can with them, and I know I think when I get to Hugo Broos’ age, then I want to go back into the national team, but after this experience with Kenya, I'm really looking to get back into managing a club.”