Bafana Bafana legend Benni McCarthy has shared how a tiff with Kaizer Chiefs football manager Bobby Motaung played a part in his decision to join Orlando Pirates.

McCarthy signed for Pirates in 2021 after leaving English side West Ham at a time when he had run -in with Bafana Bafana over a number of issues.

The striker was coming to the end of his career and wanted to finish it back home, after a long stint in Europe that took him to Ajax Amsterdam, Celta Vigo, FC Porto and Blackburn Rovers.

Just when he was back home, it was reported that Chiefs were about to sign a ‘big fish’ and all indications pointed to McCarthy but Motaung dismissed that notion.

Benni McCarthy on being disrespected by Motaung

Benni McCarthy who is the Kenya head coach. Photo: FKF Media

“Bobby said apparently to someone when they heard; ‘Hey, I hear you guys are signing Benni’ and his response was; ‘Kaizer Chiefs don’t sign washed up players. He [McCarthy] is not the only big fish in town’,” McCarthy said on SuperSport TV.

“That person then went and told a friend of mine and the friend said; ‘Hey my man, I thought you and Bobby were tight and I said yeah, we are good. There is mutual respect, we have a lot of respect for each other. I have never had anything against Bobby or anyone

“And he said; ‘but [Bobby] said this and that’ and I am like; ‘really’! Then for me was to go and ask him; ‘Bro why are you being disrespectful.’ But then I thought it was not the right place and time for that. It is okay just let it slide, we are in the club, let’s have fun,” McCarthy recalls when he found himself in a nightclub with Motaung after the story.

How did Pirates approach Bafana legend?

Benni McCarthy playing for Orlando Pirates. Photo – Imago

“The next day, I came to the derby and it is in my head. I can’t believe it. I was about to pull Bobby up and ask him because we are kind of family. The career that I have, you don’t say that; ‘washed up player’ because I have decided I am retiring so I want to retire in my own country so why say that?”

It is at this moment that a chance to join Pirates presented itself when the club’s long-serving chairman Irvin Khoza approached McCarthy.

“And then at the derby, the chairman Dr Irvin Khoza came and asked; ‘Please, if I can meet him’ and I said; ‘no, no. I am flying back to Cape Town tomorrow’ and he said; ‘at five or six o’clock before you go to the airport’,” McCarthy said.

“I have a sense where this is going. Then I went to see him the next day at five o’clock and within 10 minutes, the chairman tells me my life story from when I was young and I was like; ‘Oh my God, this guy knows so much about me from when I was playing at Young Pirates and during Bafana.’

Benni McCarthy got revenge on Motaung

Bobby Motaung and Kaizer Motaung Jr of Kaizer Chiefs. — Bobby Motaung and Kaizer Motaung Jr. Photo credit: Kaizer Chiefs/FB

“And he said; ‘listen, Pirates will restore your legacy, you come back, put on that Pirates shirt, you win what you need to win and you will earn the respect back that you have lost during your fight with Bafana and SAFA.’

“I was like my dad must not know but then I had that little thing about Bobby and then I was like; Okay Mr chairman. Done deal, I am coming for Bobby.”

McCarthy would go on to hurt Chiefs by scoring twice in his first Soweto Derby and made sure Motaung noticed while he enjoyed two successful years at Pirates, winning three trophies, including the PSL title in 2012, the last time the Buccaneers lifted it.