|
Benni McCarthy is aiming to one day coach a team "as big as Manchester City" after spending time last week in the English north west working on his UEFA Pro License. The former South Africa international striker is in his first season as a head coach with Absa Premiership side Cape Town City, and has had mixed success so far as he prepares the side for a Nedbank Cup clash with in-form Orlando Pirates on Wednesday. The competition is South Africa's version of the FA Cup and carries some gravitas, so to beat Soweto giants Pirates and move into the quarter finals would be notable scalp for the rookie coach. McCarthy feels invigorated by the time he spent at Manchester City's training complex, taking in as well their UEFA Champions League defeat to Basel. "We didn't get to see the real inside scoop because they played so they never had a training session. "We couldn't see the genius of Pep [Guardiola] at work," McCarthy told journalists, "but I got to see the Under-21s, which the feeder side for the first team and four of the youth players that we watched ended up playing in the Champions League, so it was good to see how these guys apply themselves. "How can it not inspire you because you see what you are working towards?" he added. "The end game is to be in charge of such a massive club as Man City one day, or hopefully grow [Cape Town City] to be as big." McCarthy reveals that his players were especially interested in what he had learnt on the course. "It's nice to see something different and give the boys a rest from my nippy voice and jumping down their throats. Everybody wanted to know what they train like at Man City and if we can train like that. "So today I will give them a Man City training session!"  McCarthy is expecting a fiery confrontation with Pirates in the Nedbank Cup, though he admits he would have preferred an easier draw. "It's a tie that everybody dreams of, to play Kaizer Chiefs, Orlando Pirates, Mamelodi Sundowns, Bidvest Wits or SuperSport United, all the top teams," he added, "but it would have been nice to be a smaller team. "I think with the form that Pirates are in, coming off the derby, and they will have a lot of support, for these [City] players it is going to be something that everybody is going to want to be involved in. "It's going to be a good atmosphere, the pitch looks good also so there will be no excuses," he added. "It's a one-off game so anything can happen." McCarthy also hinted that he may give a first run to Kenyan striker Masoud Juma, who is finally fit to play for the club having been signed in January. "Juma is ready, he will most likely make his first 18-man squad," the coach revealed. "He has looked OK and sharp, it is match fitness he lacks. "He will probably play a part in [Wednesday's] game. I would like to give him a run and see what we signed, see what we are working with." The fixture will come too soon for another overseas import that has yet to feature for the club, Uganda international Allan Kateregga "Allan got injured playing for the reserve team, so today is his first training session back with the first team," McCarthy concluded. "He will take another week or so to be ready." City have already reached one cup final this season, but drew the MTN8 decider against SuperSport and then lost on post-match penalties.
|
