Bafana Bafana legend Sibusiso Zuma has opened up about a candid conversation with Benni McCarthy, offering a glimpse into the complex hurdles that are stifling South African players on the global stage.
As two of the country’s most successful exports, their perspectives carry immense weight. Zuma, a cult hero during his decorated stints at FC Copenhagen and Arminia Bielefeld, and McCarthy—a UEFA Champions League winner with FC Porto and a Premier League stalwart—remain the gold standard for South Africans abroad.
Having both conquered the European landscape at the highest level, the former strike partners are now using their combined experience to mentor the next generation of local talent navigating the difficult transition to overseas football.
However, it wasn’t easy for them, and Zuma reveals they often discussed how to navigate Europe’s challenges. In an interview with FARPost, Zuma said it’s easy to fall into depression and lose form when playing in Europe.
WHAT SIBUSISO ZUMA SAID
“There are challenges, man. There are significant challenges,” Zuma told FARPost. “I’ve had deep conversations about it with guys like Benni when we were both based in Europe. When you are overseas, you are often alone. In some of those countries, the cold is so extreme that you’re forced to stay indoors most of the time.
“But we are professionals. We knew exactly what we were signing up for. In those moments, you have to keep the main thing the main thing—and that is the football. If you let your mind wander too much, the isolation can lead to depression, and that is when your form on the pitch starts to suffer.”
ZUMA’S PRAISE FOR MBOKAZI BUT…
While Zuma was quick to laud the recent move of Bafana star Mbekezeli Mbokazi to Major League Soccer [MLS], he remains deeply concerned by the dwindling number of South Africans currently making their mark on the global stage.
“I’m very happy for him; he is a special talent,” added Zuma. “I’m excited about his journey because he is going to be a pillar for the future of the national team. But we need to see this happening more frequently, across all the top leagues.”
The former Arminia Bielefeld attacker believes the current export rate pales in comparison to previous generations.
“We want to see these young African players moving abroad like they used to. It’s about ensuring they go overseas and represent us properly. The numbers simply aren’t high enough right now; we need to see a much larger contingent of our players testing themselves abroad.”
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