Benni McCarthy calls it quits

[cr@zydude]

ohannesburg - Orlando Pirates striker and former Bafana Bafana stalwart Benni McCarthy announced his retirement from football on Thursday.

McCarthy, South Africa's most successful player of the modern era, released a statement via his management company, confirming he would be hanging up his boots.

McCarthy began his professional career at now defunct Seven Stars in Cape Town, before the 36-year-old attacker went on to play in Holland for Ajax Amsterdam, Spain (Celta Vigo), Portugal (FC Porto) and England (Blackburn Rovers and West Ham United). He returned to South Africa for a final stint with the Buccaneers.

Sport24

Towards the end, he was known as fat and useless, and for turning down Bafana call ups. In the late 90's and early 2000's though, who could ever forget one of SA's best. I was secretly hoping to see him play for Ajax next season, with a proper swansong. I can't say that I loved him as a player, but he was talented, and we are yet to find a true replacement for him.

[video=youtube;cw0hAhL_39s]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cw0hAhL_39s[/video]

 

[akescpt]

Fat and useless? Bit harsh. Even in that shape he was better than the others. Imagine if he didn't eat so much.

 

[themba990]

Eish, so pirates is losing Benni an Segolela. Time to do some shopping. I hope the Iron Duke is ready to sign some cheques

 

[nfbs]

Imagine how much weight he's going to put on now. Probably will end up looking like Jomo Sono.

 

[cr@zydude]

Fat and useless? Bit harsh. Even in that shape he was better than the others. Imagine if he didn't eat so much.

True, he was still scoring goals at Pirates, it shows how SA football hasn't progressed. He was probably at his worst in 2009 and 2010.

 

[Centronix]

MacDonald's couldn't be happier about this

 

[Fuma]

Eish, so pirates is losing Benni an Segolela. Time to do some shopping. I hope the Iron Duke is ready to sign some cheques

Where is Segolela going?

 

[cr@zydude]

Where is Segolela going?

Chiefs and other PSL clubs want him, and their is talk of a trial in England.

 

[craigdoepie]

Is this Benni's ploy of wanting clubs to splash some more cash to get him out of retirement ?

 

[losta]

Did see him play for Ajax quite a few times.

Never managed to be the leader of that team though, but usually a decent performance.