Doctor Khumalo hails Benni McCarthy’s appointment as Harambee Stars coach

Legendary South African footballer Doctor Khumalo has hailed the appointment of his Bafana Bafana teammate Benni MCCarthy as the new coach of the Harambee Stars as one that raises the level of South African football.

McCarthy, 47, was unveiled as Harambee Stars' new coach on Monday, becoming the third non-Kenyan African to hold the position after the Nigerian Christian Chukwu and the Algerian-Belgian Adel Amrouche.

Khumalo, 57, who was a star midfielder for the Kaizer Chiefs and the Bafana Bafana, was speaking on Soccer Zone, a South African football show.

“I am happy to see South African coaches getting jobs outside the country and for Benni, it is bigger since he is not going to a club but a national team. That on its own is big because he is putting our football on another level. Pitso Mosimane has done that and Rhulani Mokwena has also done that,” Khumalo added.

Pitso Mosimane, 60, was the first high-profile South African coach to venture abroad. He made history in 2020 when he became the first non-Egyptian African to coach Al Ahly. His exploits with Al Ahly include a league title, an Egypt Cup victory, two CAF CL triumphs, and a CAF Super Cup, achievements which shattered the myth that South African coaches cannot succeed abroad.

Mosimane is currently after terminating his contract with Iranian club Esteghlal in January this year.

Rhulani Mokwena, 38, is currently the coach of Moroccan club Wydad Casablanca, whom he joined in July 2024 after winning three league titles and the African Football League during his four years with Mamelodi Sundowns.

With Kenya set to co-host AFCON 2027 alongside Tanzania and Uganda, McCarthy is set to become the first South African to coach another African country at AFCON.

His appointment as Harambee Stars coach broke new ground for South African football as he became the first South African to coach a national team outside the COSAFA region and only the second - after Moses Maliehe, who coached Lesotho from 2015 to 2019 - to manage another African team without prior experience coaching Bafana Bafana.

Historically, few South African coaches have taken on national team roles abroad. April Phumo coached Lesotho from 1979 to 1995 before briefly managing Bafana Bafana. Other South Africans who have coached foreign national teams include Thabo Senong (Lesotho, 2019–2021) and Ephraim Mashaba (Swaziland, 2008–2010). However, McCarthy’s profile surpasses that of his predecessors.

As a player, McCarthy was among the pioneers who shattered South Africa’s football isolation. He became a global name, representing Ajax, Celta Vigo, Porto, West Ham, and Blackburn Rovers. His achievements include an Eredivisie title, two Primeira Liga championships, and a UEFA Champions League triumph with Porto under José Mourinho. At AFCON 1998, he became only the second player in tournament history to score four goals in a single match.

McCarthy has also made strides in coaching, further defying the norm by working as a first-team coach at Manchester United, where he contributed to their 2024 FA Cup triumph. His European experience sets him apart from most South African coaches who remain confined to domestic football.

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