McCarthy explains signing of old teammate Obinna
Benni McCarthy believes Cape Town City could use an experienced forward like Victor Obinna to bolster their strike force.
JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA – AUGUST 18: coach Benni McCarthy of Cape Town City during the Absa Premiership match between Bidvest Wits and Cape Town City FC at Bidvest Stadium on August 18, 2017 in Johannesburg, South Africa. (Photo by Sydney Seshibedi/Gallo Images)
City completed the signing of the Nigerian international this week.
McCarthy and Obinna were once teammates in England at West Ham.
“Obinna, he’s a great friend of mine,” McCarthy told media after the clash against Kaizer Chiefs.
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“I’ve known Victor from his days in the Nigerian national team, when he used to be a strike partner for Obafemi Martins. Back then, obviously when he signed with Inter as an African player everyone knows about it. It was round about that time I was in England, Spain, Portugal. It is big news for African players when they get such an opportunity.
“I came across him at West Ham where we played together. He was a bit youngish, I took him under my wing as I was on the way out. We became friends and always just kept in touch all these years.
“I learnt he was free and doesn’t have a club. Of course when you are in Europe why would you come to South Africa? So I had to persuade him a little bit to get back into football and that he can always go back to Europe. And to my shock and surprise he said, ‘yeah, why not?’ What has he got to lose? So he came down and that’s it, because we were teammates at West Ham and with what he’s seen and read that the team play nice football.
“He’s a very humble guy and hopefully he can teach the guys some stuff or learn from them as he’s been out of African football for many years. This is his way to get back into topflight football, and why not with Cape Town City?”
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