Benni McCarthy Reveals Ordeal That Shaped His Love-Hate Relationship with Bafana Bafana: 'I Was in Tears'

Harambee Stars coach Benni McCarthy has recalled one moment he lost his passport in his authorised biography, 'Benni'.

In an edited extract from the biography, Benni McCarthy recounted the turbulent beginnings of his love-hate relationship with the South African national team.

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The former Manchester United attacking coach reflected that his introduction to the South African national team environment became a distressing experience almost from the outset, recalling how a trip to England in the late 1990s turned into a personal ordeal.

Benni McCarthy explained that he had been brought along to observe the squad during an international friendly at Old Trafford as part of his development, but shortly after arriving from Europe, he realised an important travel document and personal belongings were missing.

The Harambee Stars coach said the situation left him deeply shaken, particularly because he was very young, alone in an unfamiliar country and struggling to get assistance.

He added that the lack of guidance or urgency from officials at the time intensified his sense of isolation, leaving him feeling abandoned during what should have been an educational and inspiring moment early in his career.

“My first encounter with Bafana Bafana soured almost immediately after I lost my wallet and passport. In May 1997, I was invited to a friendly match against England at Old Trafford, not as a player, but as a guest,” Benni McCarthy said as per the Sunday Times.

“The South African Football Association (SAFA) thought it would be a valuable experience for me to be around the camp and get a feel for the national team environment. I believe I left my passport on the train after arriving from Amsterdam, and I was in tears when I realised my mistake.

“To make matters worse, nobody seemed particularly interested in helping me. I was just a teenager in a foreign country, without any documents and with no support, especially not from SAFA.”

Benni McCarthy went on to explain that he was so overwhelmed by the situation that he remained in the hotel lobby, unable to act and visibly distraught.

The Bafana Bafana legend said it was only through the intervention of the team’s reserve goalkeeper, Brian Baloyi, that he was connected with Percy Adams, who stepped in to offer support.

Benni McCarthy noted that this encounter laid the foundation for a lasting personal bond, as Adams, who was in England in a commercial capacity, voluntarily took responsibility for helping him.

He recalled being accompanied to the capital, where arrangements were made for replacement travel papers, stressing that Adams had no formal duty to assist and acted purely out of kindness.

He added that the episode shaped a complicated emotional connection with the national side, explaining that although he accepted responsibility for misplacing his documents, he felt deserted by the football authorities and left to cope alone.

“I didn't know what to do and just sat in the hotel lobby, crying my eyes out. It was the team's backup goalkeeper, Brian Baloyi, who introduced me to Percy Adams and asked him to help. That moment marked the beginning of my lifelong friendship with Percy,” he revealed.

“He was attending the game as a sponsor's representative and took pity on me. He escorted me to London and helped me arrange new documentation at the High Commission. Percy had no official role with SAFA and no obligation to assist me; he did it purely out of the goodness of his heart.

“This incident was the starting point of what would become a complex, love-hate relationship with Bafana Bafana. While losing my passport was my own fault, I felt completely abandoned by SAFA. They just left me to fend for myself.”

Benni McCarthy also reflected on his first official appearance for South Africa, which came shortly afterwards in a warm-up match against the Netherlands in Johannesburg.