Are South African players overly comfortable in their home environment? McCarthy believes that to be the case

Kenya national team head coach Benni McCarthy highlighted what he appreciates more about Kenyan players compared to those from his native South Africa.

McCarthy observed that the mindset of Kenyan players surpassed that of their South African counterparts, highlighting their capacity to tackle challenges that distinguished them.

The ex-Manchester United first team coach asserts that South Africa is rich in football talent; however, players frequently show reluctance to engage in global competition, opting instead to remain in the domestic league.

He compares this to Kenyan players, who actively pursue opportunities to play professionally overseas, even though South African players possess the potential to join leading international clubs.

“In South Africa, players are exceptional talents; they possess the necessary skills, yet they choose to remain in South Africa,” McCarthy shared with NTV according to Pulse Sports.

“They hesitate to move because they are comfortable where they are, and to me, that is a disservice to oneself. To truly excel, one must compete with the best.”

“It is essential to challenge yourself against the top teams globally, the finest players in the world.” He added, “In South Africa, you are not going to get that.”

McCarthy drew a comparison with his observations in Kenya, emphasizing the contrasting mindsets of players from the two nations.

“What I have experienced here in Kenya is that many players are moving to Europe, and they are not afraid to step out of their comfort zones. The prevailing belief is that ‘yes, I can achieve that, I can play in Europe, I can make it in Europe,’” he said.

“I love that because you can see so much of it here in Kenya when you talk to the players on the national team; they have such great aspirations.”