Benni does it just like Mourinho
Benni McCarthy referenced Jose Mourinho after his Cape Town City side pulled off a smash-and-grab opening day Absa Premiership win on Friday, to stun defending champions Bidvest Wits on their own turf.
Benni McCarthy, head coach of Cape Town City during the Absa Premiership match between Bidvest Wits and Cape Town City FC at Bidvest Stadium. (Photo by Sydney Seshibedi/Gallo Images)
Mourinho’s Manchester United have started the English season full of goals, but the Portuguese has been well-known over the years for building win-at-all-cost sides, and McCarthy no doubt learned a trick or two in his time playing under Mourinho at Porto.
“Jose Mourinho always said football cannot be nice all the time, sometimes you have to win ugly, and today we proved we can do that,” said McCarthy, whose side won 1-0, courtesy of Lehlohonolo Majoro’s header four minutes before the break.
“Our game-plan was to play football, we wanted to keep the ball on the ground and stretch them, but every time we had a touch it went straight to the opposition. It was like tennis in the midfield, we gave the ball to them and they gave it to us. They were more accustomed to the pitch than us so we had to match them at their game, and hope for a couple of opportunities and take one of them. That is what happened.”
Wits were left to rue missed chances, especially a penalty from Gabadinho Mhango eight minutes after half-time, that was saved by Shuaib Walters. It was strange that Mhango even took it when James Keene, who had scored the previous week against Arrows, was also on the field.
“I turned around because I thought Keeno was on the ball, and the guys on the bench said Gabo was on the ball,” admitted assistant coach Paul Johnstone, who took charge while the suspended Gavin Hunt sat in the stands.
