Former Pirates star reveals how Benni McCarthy splashed R100k on booze

Former Bafana Bafana and Orlando Pirates goalkeeper Brighton Mhlongo has disclosed how Benni McCarthy organised a memorable birthday party for him.

Mhlongo, who played at Pirates from 2011-2017, two of those years with McCarthy in the team (2011-2013), says McCarthy once spent all his Bafana bonus of R100,000 on his birthday party that left him speechless.

The former goalkeeper, who was second choice for most of his career at Pirates and Bafana Bafana, remembers how McCarthy ensured he felt special by shutting out the entire nightclub for him on his special day.

Benni shut down the club for birthday bash

“I will tell you another story about bonuses at the national team. This guy [McCarthy] gets R100k from the tournament,” Mhlongo said on Soccer Laduma.

“I have never seen this ever in my life where he sends me a picture of, I think it was R100k cash, then he says to me; ‘This is the money that we are all going to enjoy. Literally I did not know on that day and then he says to me, because he asked me on my day what I’m going to do and I said; ‘Don’t do that we will go out.’

“I thought it is typical going out as a group. This guy [McCarthy], he closed the club. Shut down the club and they threw a huge birthday party for me with the R100,000.

Ex-Pirates star surprised by McCarthy’s generosity

“He said; ‘Everyone you are invited; it is Brighton’s day. I felt like a king. This R100,000 is coming from Benni McCarthy.”

McCarthy was beloved among his Bafana teammates due to his tendency to tell truth to power and stand up for his teammates, demanding that they get paid well and on time.

He also liked to have a good time when he had to and it appears those close to him enjoyed many acts of his generosity.