Ex-Orlando Pirates star Benni McCarthy faced childish criticism of his weight back in his elite playing days. Here’s how he clapped back.
The Benni McCarthy Rabbit Food Diet
Benni McCarthy has been harshly criticized for his weight gain since switching from player to coach. It must be difficult to transition from elite athlete to tactician, though. Besides, how many of those throwing shade at Benni are in perfect shape themselves? Not many, I guess.
McCarthy’s bloated figure was the primary reason he parted ways with then-English Premiership club, West Ham, in April 2011. The Hammers ordered him to lose weight in three months to make the squad in the 2010-11 Premier League campaign.
Benni, who hails from Hanover Park township in Cape Town, first played in the domestic Premiership in 1997 for the Cape Town Spurs.
“I’ve changed my lifestyle and eating habits,” he said back in 2011 when he was an Orlando Pirates player.
Benni’s playing achievements make him the South African GOAT
- First and only South African UEFA Champions League winner with Porto in 2004.
- Two-time Primeira Liga winner with Porto.
- Dutch Eredivisie champion with Ajax Amsterdam in 1998.
- Champion of South Africa with Orlando Pirates in 2011-12.
- Nedbank Cup and MTN8 winner in 2011, also with Pirates.
- All-time leading scorer for Bafana Bafana with 31 goals from 80 caps.
- Until 2023 when Lyle Foster made the switch to Burnley, Benni was the most expensive South African footballer of all time. He moved from Ajax to Celta Vigo for €6m in 1999.
- Benni Scored 18 goals in 36 Premier League appearances in the 2006-07 season.
- In October 2007, Benni McCarthy finished a sequence of scoring with 10 consecutive shots on target in the Premier League.
Orlando Pirates fan discontent with the Saleng situation
Let’s start in the present moment before we rewind it to the start of Saleng’s rollercoaster Pirates career. As things stand, on 07 March 2025, Sea Robbers supporters are torn. However, there’s plenty of sentiment that no single player is bigger than the club while a quote from a reader stood out:
‘Saleng story has done a lot of damage to football lovers in South Africa’
What are your fondest Benni memories?
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