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THROWBACK: Benni McCarthy eating rabbit food
Ex-Orlando Pirates star Benni McCarthy faced childish criticism of his weight back in his elite playing days. Here’s how he silenced the haters.
Benni McCarthy on his Rabbit Food Diet of 2011
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 throwback
Benni McCarthy is the greatest Bafana star ever. Let’s recall why the ex-Orlando Pirates and Porto goal machine was so special in his heyday.
- Benedict Saul “Benni” McCarthy was born in Cape Town and grew up in Hanover Park.
- Benni McCarthy is the first and only South African winner of the UEFA Champions League.
- On top of that, he also won domestic league titles in Portugal, the Netherlands and South Africa.
- McCarthy is Bafana Bafana’s all-time leading scorer with 31 strikes for the national team in 80 caps.
- Benni made his debut for South Africa in 1997 as a teenager under legendary manager Clive Barker.
- His playing career in Europe took him to Ajax, Celta Vigo, FC Porto, Blackburn Rovers and West Ham United.
- After he guided AmaZulu into the CAF Champions League in 2021, Benni was unofficially given the nickname Mr Benni Makathini, Zulu Warrior.
- Benni speaks four languages namely, English, Spanish, Dutch and Portuguese.
- McCarthy scored 18 goals in the 2006-07 Premier League season for Blackburn, ending as the second-top scorer. A certain Cristiano Ronaldo struck 17 times in that campaign.
- In October 2007, Benni McCarthy finished a sequence of scoring with 10 consecutive shots on target in the Premier League.
What are your most cherished memories of Benni McCarthy?
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