Orlando Pirates veteran striker Ndumiso Mabena believes South Africans should learn from his former teammate and now Manchester United striker coach Benni McCarthy.
McCarthy has been credited with revitalising the form of striker Marcus Rashford. The former FC Porto striker was hired to be part of Erik ten Hag’s backroom staff to work specifically with the club’s strikers.
English publications have also credited the all time Bafana Bafana top goalscorer with Jadon Sancho’s recent form.
Mabena who played with McCarthy at Orlando Pirates between 2011 and 2013 has hailed the 2004 UEFA Champions League winner.
NDUMISO MABENA PROUD OF BENNI MCCARTHY
“He has been my role model ever since I started playing football. Thank God I had to play with him as well,” Mabena told journalists.
“Seeing him coaching at Manchester United, I am very proud. He is a South African and I am proud as a South African as well. If you can see ever since he got there, [Marcus] Rashford has been scoring consistently.
“So you have to be proud when one of our South Africans is doing that well abroad. So yeah I think we just have to learn from him, he has done well for himself and his family and for the country as well. He is the man.”
ORLANDO PIRATES ALSO IMPROVED WITH A STRIKER COACH
Mabena has also given praise to former Pirates striker coach Scott Chickelday. Chickelday has a short stint with the Buccaneers in January.
“He added a lot of value especially to the attacking third. I think with all the goals that we scored when he was around, it’s what we were doing at training,” said Mabena.
“So set pieces, the finishing. If you look at Kermit Erasmus’ first goal in the league, it’s what we were doing at training. It’s those drills that we do at training and we are happy that we are still continuing to score. So we have learnt a lot from him.”
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