Calls grow for Benni McCarthy to be named next Bafana Bafana coach

Former South Africa coach Clive Barker believes the South African Football Association (SAFA) should appoint the likes of Pitso Mosimane and Benni McCarthy as the next Bafana Bafana coach.

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Bafana Bafana suffered a shock 2-0 defeat to Sudan in Khartoum on Sunday, failing to qualify for the delayed 2021 Africa Cup Nations (AFCON) now set to take place in Cameroon early next year.

They finished third in Group C with 10 points, three behind winners Ghana and two behind second-placed Sudan.

Barker has revealed his disappointment with the team’s displays, considering they have some of the best facilities in the continent.

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“I have always said that you have to have coaches that have won things. I mean‚ not to be against coach Molefi Ntseki‚ I think his mannerisms are good and I think his intentions are good‚ but really you have got to win things. I feel for him‚” the 1996 AFCON winner told TimesLIVE.

“I think it is terrible that we have all these facilities that we have got and just be knocked out so early. It is just crazy. The quality of football leaves quite a bit to be desired.

“I mean‚ it is crazy. You can’t go there and be in charge of a national team and you have never won anything. I can’t recall if he has won something and if he has won‚ then I do apologise.

“Arthur Zwane sits there and he has won all types of trophies‚ how can he go there and have a guy who has never won anything?” the now 76-year-old Barker added.

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Barker believes that current Al Ahly head coach Pitso Mosimane should be considered for the Bafana Bafana job, along with AmaZulu coach Benni McCarthy.

“I think they should have thought of maybe someone like Benni McCarthy or people like that, who can come in and turn this whole thing around‚” said Barker.

“No doubt about it‚ he [McCarthy] is a breath of fresh air. He knows the game at the highest level and he has played and scored at the highest level. He has made his mark at national level as a player and he is now making his mark as a coach locally. He is the guy that should be able to take us forward.

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“He is the flavour of the month at the moment – and he should be, too. He has done really well as a coach‚ the people respond well to him and they do it for a reason – because he has delivered the goods before.

“We have got coaches here at home and we must pay them to get the team in decent situations‚ and give them the support.

“The only thing is to get results. We have got to get young Benni or a Pitso Mosimane who has won at the highest level in Africa.

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“We have got people who have won things. There are talented people. There is Shakes Mashaba who has had a tough time as coach.

“I think if they get everybody together that has coached Bafana, that would be the way to go. I think those people have the right ideas.

“We definitely have the right quality of players and we have got the right set-up,” Barker concluded.

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