Benni McCarthy: Bafana Bafana Legend Questions Modern Players’ Passion and Priorities

• Benni McCarthy has shared his thoughts on the differences between his own era of players and the current young players in football
• The former West Ham United striker addressed different topics and expressed his concern about the modern-day players
• The Kenyan national team coach also offered the new generation of players some advice while highlighting what they should focus on

South African coach Benni McCarthy has weighed in on the difference between his generation and modern day set of players in football.

The Bafana Bafana legend's football career spanned nearly two decades, and it saw him play in top European leagues in the Netherlands, Spain, Portugal, and England.

During his time in Portugal with FC Porto, the former Orlando Pirates striker won the UEFA Champions League and remains the only South African to ever achieve such a feat.

The former Celta Vigo forward remains the all-time leading goal scorer for South Africa's men's national team and recently released his autobiography, titled after his own name, 'Benni'.

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McCarthy on his generation and modern players

In a recent interview, McCarthy spoke about the challenges modern players face in staying focused. He expressed concern that today’s footballers are often distracted by social media and other non-football pursuits.

“Our generation’s love was for football, not headlines,” the Harambee Stars head coach said during the interview.

“We were driven to succeed, aiming to play for the best clubs in South Africa before moving to Europe. Nowadays, there’s too much emphasis on showmanship. Many players are more interested in social media—how they look in the kit—rather than what it takes to win trophies.

“Everything they have comes from football, so it demands respect and dedication. Today’s players might have more natural talent than we did, but the commitment is often lacking."

McCarthy on players being distracted by phones

McCarthy, who recently outlined how to fix Kaizer Chiefs' problems, went on to admit that it is common to see the current young players being distracted by their mobile phones, but stressed that they should make football come first, while other things follow.

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He advised them to invest more time in training and working hard while improving their skills, rather than spending much time on social media creating content.

“It’s common to see players distracted by their phones. I don’t want to overly criticise, but football should come first. The fame, rewards, and opportunities all stem from the game, so it deserves more focus," he added.

“Players should invest more time in training, working harder, and refining their skills instead of spending hours on Instagram, TikTok, or creating content. Putting more energy into improving on the pitch is essential.”

Nigerian football legend calls out SA players

Briefly News earlier reported that a Nigerian football legend has criticised South African players for not taking up a new challenge by moving to Europe.

The Super Eagles legend acknowledged the Premier Soccer League for being one of the best leagues in Africa, but wants Bafana Bafana stars to leave their comfort zone.

Source: Briefly News