Benni McCarthy gets candid about his love for Amakhosi and what it would take to bring the glory days back to Naturena. Photo: Backpagepix
Image: Backpagepix
Few football figures in South Africa speak about Kaizer Chiefs with as much emotion as Benni McCarthy. The former Bafana Bafana striker admits that Chiefs have always held a special place in his heart.
“It’s my childhood team,” he says.
“As a player, I would have jumped if it was that situation. If the chairman (Irvin Khoza) asked me to join Pirates, and Chiefs came to me, I would go to Chiefs because it's the team I supported, you understand?
So, yes, I’d love to coach them.”
Yet, despite his loyalty, McCarthy refuses to lobby for the job of coaching the Soweto giants. If the opportunity comes, he would consider it, but he will not push for it.
“I'm in a situation where if they don't want you, I don't force anything upon anyone. So, I won't just avail myself for an interview or anything. But, if they think that I'm the right fit, of course, we're there to have those discussions. But, thus far, nothing has come through.”
To understand Chiefs’ challenges, McCarthy compares the club to Manchester United, where he once worked as a first-team coach. The comparison may sound ambitious, but McCarthy insists the similarities are real.
“Chiefs is exactly like Man United. You know, they are a phenomenal football club.”
Both clubs boast enormous fan bases, rich histories and strong organisational structures. Off the pitch, Chiefs remain one of the best-run clubs in the country.
“The one thing I can tell you is that they are the most well-run, well-organised football club in this country — the support and everything. They've got the fans and a great history. They have everything that you want in a football club.”
Yet the results do not match the stature.
“Unfortunately, on the football field, it's not coming together; something is missing, it's not working. They need to figure that out, they need to find a solution. Because once they can get that card right, then good luck to all the other teams,” he says.
McCarthy cautions against simplistic explanations for Chiefs’ struggles. From outside the club, it is impossible to know the full picture.
“You have to be inside that environment to understand what is happening,” he explains.
Speculation can range from management decisions to coaching structures or player dynamics. But without direct knowledge, blaming any single factor is unfair.
Still, McCarthy believes one issue is clearly visible: confidence. He suggests this may be the biggest problem affecting the current Chiefs squad. When a team loses several matches in a row, doubt begins to creep into the dressing room.
“If you lose four games on the bounce, there’s a confidence issue,” he says.
The problem is psychological rather than technical. Players do not suddenly lose their ability overnight.
“They were signed because they were good players,” McCarthy explains.
The challenge is restoring the belief that made them stand out in the first place. Despite criticism from fans, McCarthy believes the current squad is not as poor as many claim, with Chiefs sitting inside the top five of the league.
“That means they’re not bad,” he says.
However, Chiefs’ standards are higher than simply finishing in the top half of the table. The club expect to compete for trophies and league titles, and that expectation creates pressure. For McCarthy, the solution lies partly in coaching. Players need someone who can reignite their confidence and remind them why they were recruited.
“They just need somebody to restore what got them signed,” he says.
That process involves rebuilding belief, improving tactical discipline and creating a winning mentality. It is not about replacing every player; it is about rediscovering their strengths. The message is clear: the door is open — but the invitation must come from Chiefs.
For McCarthy, coaching Chiefs would represent more than just another job. It would be a return to the club he supported as a child. Yet, his analysis shows he understands the enormity of the challenge. Reviving Chiefs requires more than tactical adjustments. It demands cultural change, restored confidence and renewed commitment from players.
Only then can the club reclaim its place at the top of South African football. And if that day comes, McCarthy might finally get the chance to guide his childhood team back to glory.