Pitso Mosimane Urges Bafana to Take Benni McCarthy’s Kenya Seriously

Pitso Mosimane has warned South Africa not to underestimate the Kenya side coached by former Bafana Bafana striker Benni McCarthy, saying the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers could bring an uncomfortable challenge. South Africa are due to face Kenya twice in November, with the first match scheduled for Orlando Amstel Arena in Soweto on Friday, 13 November, followed by the return fixture in Kenya on Tuesday, 17 November. Mosimane said his message to Bafana was simple: respect the opponent and stay alert throughout both games. According to the report, Mosimane praised McCarthy’s experience, personality and determination to succeed as a coach. He noted that McCarthy had worked at Manchester United and alongside high-profile players, including Cristiano Ronaldo, and said those achievements deserved respect. Mosimane also cautioned that players can be especially motivated when they feel they are fighting for their coach. He described Kenya as a team that could produce a surprise if South Africa approached the tie complacently. “Be careful when playing an emotional team, especially one that has nothing to lose,” he said. The former Mamelodi Sundowns coach pointed to Kenya’s players based in several European countries and said reputations alone would not decide the matches. He invoked Cape Verde’s rise in international football as a reminder that teams can exceed expectations once a game begins. Mosimane said his own career had taught him not to dismiss lower-ranked opponents, recalling that he had lost matches against sides many people expected to lose. South Africa, he stressed, should keep its discipline and focus until the referee ends each contest. With McCarthy aiming to make an impression with Kenya, Mosimane’s warning is that Bafana must earn the result on the pitch rather than assume it is already theirs.