Khaya Ndubane

By Khaya Ndubane

Digital Manager Phakaaathi


Tembo looks to emulate Benni

The SuperSport United coach is looking to follow in Benni McCarthy’s footsteps to win the top eight as player and coach.


Kaitano Tembo could become only the second player in the country to win the MTN8 title in the PSL era as a player and a coach after Cape Town City mentor Benni McCarthy achieved the feat last season.

Tembo could have reached this achievement last season but McCarthy was the one who wrote the history books when he beat Tembo’s SuperSport United in the MTN8 last year on penalties.

READ: SuperSport players to get 80% of MTN8 prize money

The Matsantsantsa a Pitori mentor has got a second bite of the cherry to win his first title as a head coach and add on to the top-eight title which he won with the capital city-based outfit in 2004, which was still known as the SAA Super Eight.

However, Tembo in his humble nature, refused to comment about the possibility of joining McCarthy on the list as he deflected the attention quite diplomatically.

“I think I will be able to think about that after the game but now I am trying to focus on the team because it is not about me. There are a lot of people who work behind the scenes in the club. I don’t think that the success of the club can be entirely up to me. We work as a family and we have a different players contributing and for me that is where the focus is,” he said.

His contract comes up at the end of the season, and according to reports, SuperSport chief executive officer Stanley Matthews said Tembo’s deal could be renewed if he wins a title and do well in the league.

“I don’t really focus on that, I focus on the day-to-day and progression of the team because I believe in building and if we look at our team from last season, there is a bit of an improvement. Sometimes you can even win a trophy and still get fired, I have seen it happening all these years so I want to try and do a good job. Even if I leave today I will be proud of the guys and I will know that I have left a good team which I know can do well and win things,” said Tembo.

For more news your way, download The Citizen’s app for iOS and Android.

Read more on these topics

Benni McCarthy Kaitano Tembo MTN 8 News MTN8