‘That Was When I Became a Man’ - Benni McCarthy on European Club That Made Him Grow Up Fast

Harambee Stars coach Benni McCarthy has credited one of his former clubs for quickly opening his eyes to the rest of the world.

McCarthy honed his football skills at Seven Stars before moving to Ajax Cape Town, both in South Africa, but would sign for Dutch giants Ajax Amsterdam as a teenager in 1997. It was a big jump for the Cape Town-born striker, who had to overcome a number of challenges for his talents to get noticed.

The 48-year-old spent two years at Ajax, where he won the Eredivisie title and two Dutch Cups before signing to Spanish side Celta Vigo in 1999 and he says moving to the Netherlands at such a young age turned him from a kid to a man very quickly.

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“Looking back at my career, the moment that defined me the most was moving to Ajax Amsterdam,” Benni McCarthy told Independent Media Lifestyle. “A kid growing up in Hanover Park, suddenly in Europe, the unknown was daunting. I had to grow up fast.”

McCarthy relives the experience once again in his soon-to-be released biography BENNI, which is co-authored by him and veteran South African journalist Mark Gleeson and published by Pan Macmillan South Africa.

“For me, Ajax was everything,” he writes as quoted by Daily News. “New language, new culture, new food, a new environment. Life was much faster. I had to fend for myself and adapt to the situation. That was when I became a man.”

McCarthy believes growing up in the Cape Flats where gang violence and limited opportunity was commonplace prepared him for what would come next and he learned that talent alone could not make him succeed.

“Growing up in Hanover Park, you learn to be tough, and you learn to fight for your dreams,” said South Africa’s all-time top scorer. “Nobody gives you anything for free. You have to work extremely hard and believe in yourself to make sure no door is shut.”

McCarthy’s football journey would include four seasons at Celta Vigo, in between a loan spell at FC Porto (2001-02), before moving to the Portuguese club permanently in 2003, staying there until 2006, when he joined Premier League club Blackburn Rovers.

He would win the UEFA Champions League with Porto in 2004 under Jose Mourinho, who wrote the forward for the BENNI biography.

McCarthy then signed for West Ham after four years at Blackburn, spending two years at the East London club, before finishing his career with a flourish back home with Orlando Pirates where he led them to the league title in 2012, their last one to date.