Benni McCarthy Opens Up About Nightmare Spell Under Former Bafana Bafana Coach: 'He Bullied Me Relentlessly'

Benni McCarthy has revealed how one of Bafana Bafana’s coaches made his time with the national team challenging.

In an excerpt from his authorised biography, Benni, the Harambee Stars coach, reflected on South Africa’s debut at the 1998 FIFA World Cup in France.

Facing the host nation in Marseille, Bafana Bafana remained competitive, trailing just 1–0 until the final 15 minutes, when France scored twice more to secure a 3–0 win.

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Benni McCarthy revealed that following the Africa Cup of Nations, the team was handed over to French coach Philippe Troussier ahead of the 1998 World Cup.

Benni McCarthy described his time under Troussier as extremely difficult, saying the coach appeared determined to undo much of what Jomo had built and often treated the players in a condescending manner.

The former Manchester United attacking coach recalled feeling personally targeted, as Troussier seemed to single him out for criticism and harsh treatment.

According to Benni McCarthy, the coach frequently shouted at him during training, emphasising that Jomo was no longer in charge and that he could no longer act freely.

McCarthy felt that Troussier’s behaviour was driven by resentment toward him as Ephraim Matsilele "Jomo" Sono's favoured player, and that the constant attempts to embarrass him in front of his teammates made the experience particularly demoralising.

“Following the Cup of Nations, Frenchman Philippe Troussier was appointed as our new coach to lead us into the 1998 World Cup finals. For me, he was a nightmare,” Benni McCarthy shared.

“He seemed intent on dismantling everything Jomo had built and adopted a patronising attitude toward the players, with me feeling like his primary target. ‘Hey McCarthy,’ he would shout during training sessions. ‘Your father Jomo is not here anymore; you can’t do what you like.’"

“He viewed me as Jomo's favoured son, and his inexplicable animosity was hard to comprehend. He bullied me relentlessly, constantly trying to humiliate me in front of my teammates.”

Benni McCarthy explained that at that point in his career, he was looking for a coach who could help him grow and take his game to the next level.

Instead, he found himself under the guidance of someone who constantly picked on him and treated him as if he were inexperienced, despite having recently been one of the team’s standout performers at a major international tournament.

The Harambee Stars coach admitted that what should have been a career-defining experience at the 1998 World Cup in France turned into a deeply unpleasant period, as the negative treatment overshadowed what ought to have been a memorable milestone.

“At that stage of my career, I needed a coach who could help elevate my game. Instead, I was stuck with someone who was picking on me, treating me like a novice just months after I had been a top performer at a major international tournament. The entire World Cup in France, which should have been a career highlight, became a miserable experience,” Benni McCarthy revealed.

Benni McCarthy admitted that while few footballers get the chance to play at a World Cup, he often found himself wishing he were injured just to avoid going through the experience.

He recalled having fleeting, angry thoughts about confronting Troussier physically, and noted that his teammate Mark Fish nearly did so after a particularly shocking episode during training.

According to Benni McCarthy, during a defensive drill, Troussier had kicked a ball high for the defenders to clear, and when Willem Jackson headed it out of play, the coach lost his temper.

The Harambee Stars coach described how Troussier grabbed Jackson by the neck and then struck a ball against the side of his head, calling it the most humiliating incident he had ever witnessed on a training pitch.

He highlighted that Fish had courageously stood up to the coach, demanding that he treat the players with more respect, an act that left a strong impression on him.

“When Willem Jackson headed the ball out of play, Troussier exploded. He grabbed Jackson by the neck and then smacked a ball against the side of his head. It was the most demeaning thing I have ever witnessed on a training pitch,” he said.

“Fish bravely stood up to the coach, demanding he show the players more respect. The environment was defined by constant conflict and histrionics, with no encouragement whatsoever. The drama peaked after our opening 3-0 loss to France in Marseille, when Troussier threatened to quit just before our second group match against Denmark.”