‘Our Reputation Has Been Destroyed’ - Why Benni McCarthy’s Harambee Stars Assistant is Furious at Ex-Players

Harambee Stars goalkeeper trainer Moeneeb Josephs has hit out at certain ex-players who he feels did not represent his country South Africa well when they got a chance to play in Europe.

Josephs, who played in South all his career with his spell at Orlando Pirates the most memorable one, when he formed part of a title-winning team alongside his friend and now boss Benni McCarthy, feels those who moved abroad from the club did not cover themselves in glory.

Reacting to the transfer of highly-rated defender Mbekezeli Mbokazi to MLS club Chicago Fire on Tuesday, Josephs expressed his delight and relief at seeing a levelheaded young player from a humble background earn the big move and feels he will be a great ambassador for South African and Pirates players abroad unlike others before him.

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“He encompasses all those that is needed in a player,” Josephs said on SoccerBeat regarding the young defender. “If you look at the clips and a few articles about him two-and-a-half years ago, you can see where the boy was and where he is now.”

“That shows determination and desire which a lot of our players lacked in our days. The desire to want to better their lives and football careers because you come to South Africa, you get a nice salary and you are comfortable with that. I am happy with that; I do not need to go anywhere. That is shortsighted.”

The former Ajax Cape Town, Bidvest Wits and AmaZulu goalkeeper wants to see more players testing themselves abroad and has lauded Mbokazi for taking the step up less than a year after his promotion to the Pirates senior team.

“A player with desire and hunger will always want to push and see how far he can go. That is the player that Mbokazi represents and that is what will be represented as South African players in that market,” he added.

“We needed representation out there, our reputation has been destroyed by a few players that went to Europe and just ran back home.”

Mbokazi is the second Pirates youngster to secure a big-money move abroad this term after winger Mohau Nkota signed for Saudi Pro League club Al-Ettifaq in July.