Former Orlando Pirates attacking midfielder, Isaac Chansa has hailed Benni McCarthy and Steven Pienaar as the best inspirations in Africa—and admitted he wouldn’t mind being stranded on a desert island with the duo.
McCarthy joined the English Premier League side, Manchester United in July 2022 as a striker coach under the Dutch manager Erik ten Haag, while Pienaar has been appointed as the U18 assistant coach at AFC Ajax.
Speaking exclusively with Thisisfootball.Africa, Chansa has been equally complimentary about the two former Bafana Bafana players and suggested that the two legends had changed football coaches’ minds set in Africa.
“Look, for Benni (McCarthy) and Steven (Pienaar) coaching in England and Holland respectively, I think it’s a blessing and encouragement for all of us aspiring African coaches,” Chansa told Thisisfootball.Africa
“I can say they have changed our minds that if you are from Africa, you can’t coach European teams. One cannot mind to spend quality time with them because they are on a higher level.
“To see someone you played alongside, coaching one of the biggest teams in the world, it gives you a hope that one day you will make it. It makes one to be proud because you played with him, and now he’s in the top league.”
The treble winner player with the mighty Buccaneers added that he knew McCarthy and Pienaar had coaching qualities long before they became coaches, because of how they contributed in European football decades ago as players.
The UEFA Champions League winner with FC Porto in 2005, McCarthy has played for the likes of Blackburn Rovers, Celta Vigo and West Ham United. Meanwhile, Pienaar played for Tottenham, Everton and Borussia Dortmund just to mention a few.
“The two guys have played their football in top leagues, and they deserve to be where they are now,” added Chansa.
“It was going to happen regardless, because they are the legends of those Europeans’ football clubs. So, we all knew that they would coach them one day, and we are all happy as Africans.” Chansa is currently an assistant coach to ex- Orlando Pirates star Perry Mutapa at Zambia Premier League club, NAPSA Stars. He also coached national division one side, City of Lusaka in 2021.
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