Benni McCarthy has pinpointed two Bafana Bafana stars ready to test their mettle in the elite UEFA Champions League.
McCarthy backs Sundowns duo for the UEFA Champions League
Benni McCarthy believes Mamelodi Sundowns and Bafana Bafana uo Ronwen Williams and Teboho Mokoena have the quality to represent top clubs in Europe’s elite club competition, the Champions League. 27-year-old midfield maestro Mokoena and 32-year-old goalkeeper and Bafana skipper Williams both have long-term deals with the Betway Premiership champions. Ironically, Mokoena has found himself in and out of Manqoba Mngqithi’s side in recent weeks. However, Williams continues to thrive and collect plaudits. He recently became the first African-based ‘keeper to be nominated for the Yashin Trophy at the Ballon d’Or awards. McCarthy, South Africa’s only ever UEFA Champions League winner, wants to see the Masandawana pair turn out for European sides soon.
Benni discusses Williams and Mokoena’s credentials
“Ronwen Williams, for starters,” he told SuperSport.
“I player that I like a lot, Teboho Mokoena from Sundowns. He’s also a player that got the attributes, ability to play in Europe, not in the [lower leagues], but in the Champions League.
“He’s got the potential, he’s got the ability to play at that level.
“I can name names but I don’t players to get ahead of themselves when you start naming names.
“The reason why I name Mokoena and Ronwen, because they’ve been consistent. Teboho, I remember at SuperSport, I said we’ve got a gem here and he’s just gone up, up, up.
“Now he’s at the pinnacle at Sundowns. They have been consistent performers and that’s what you need to succeed, to get to Europe.
“If they going to get there I don’t know. I’m not their coaches, their clubs. Clubs maybe don’t want to let go of their best assets, which is maybe rightfully so.
“There are more players out there, way more South African players where I’ve seen the ability, they can play in Europe, but when you see this interview you’re going to make sure you’re one of those players that I’m talking about.”
Mr McCarthy doesn’t seem impressed by Broos for Bafana
Benni McCarthy was a recent guest on the On The Whistle Podcast where he discussed Hugo Broos’ credentials as the Bafana boss.
“It’s a good generation of players, a lot of young players breaking through. So it was a massive opportunity for Bafana Bafana [to win the 2023 AFCON]. They had a group of talented players coming through and they found themselves in a lucrative position to be in the semi-final,
“But there are a little bit of shortages, but you know you accept it because Bafana over the last few years have been nowhere. They have not qualified for any World Cups, they have underachieved quite a lot.
“So the fact that they have gone on to the semi-final of AFCON is good. I think with the current squad, the current generation of players that they have to choose from, they should be there and there about,
“I don’t know if they have the right manager, and if not, whichever right man comes in, hopefully, he can take this group of players to the next level,” McCarthy said via Goal.
Would you like to see more South African players strutting their stuff abroad?
Let us know by clicking on the comment tab below this article or emailing info@thesouthafrican.com. You can also send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1. Follow @TheSAnews on X and The South African on Facebook for your social fix.
