Benni McCarthy’s Harambee Stars assistant slams South Africa’s best team over lack of sportsmanship

Harambee Stars’ may be in Kenya preparing the national team for crucial 2026 World Cup qualifiers against The Gambia and Gabon, but he has an eye on what is happening back home in South Africa.

The title race in South Africa’s Premier Soccer League (PSL) got a little more interesting on Sunday when perennial champions Mamelodi Sundowns lost 2-1 to Orlando Pirates, their only challengers for the league crown.

Sundowns had won 12 of their 14 league games prior to Sunday’s match, including a 4-1 hammering of Pirates just over three weeks ago, but Buccaneers got their revenge when they won 2-1, scoring both goals in the first five minutes.

That saw Pirates stay second on the log, some 15 points behind Sundowns, but they have four matches in hand which if they win, they can narrow it to just three points.

African footballers have enjoyed massive success on and off the field. While the huge perks is a reward for hard work, some of them own luxurious private jets.

After the match, Josephs, a former Orlando Pirates goalkeeper, who was part of the team that won the club’s last league title in 2012, was left unimpressed by the behaviour of Sundowns’ Portuguese coach Miguel Cardoso, who did not shake hands with his opposite number Jose Riveiro.

“Mamelodi Sundowns are so used to winning that they don’t know how to handle a loss,” Josephs said on while reacting to the game.

“For me, it was so sad to see. We are emotionally involved in the game and it is not a weakness that Mamelodi Sundowns have as a football team, but what I saw after the game.

“As soon as they lost, what did their coach do, run out to the tunnel not wanting to shake hands with our gentleman coach who, win or lose, is the first one to go and shake your hand. That shows such a weak individual to do that.

Olympic champion Gabby Thomas explains why she opted for a second job after finding out that there's no enough money on the track.

“That is so weak of him to run down the tunnel. I have noticed with Mamelodi Sundowns, as soon as they win a game, their coach is the first one to run and go and shake your hand but as soon as you lose, we must chase after you? Come on, that is poor, that is a weak individual for me.”

However, while Cardoso rushed down the tunnel after the match, clips posted online later showed him in a deep conversation with Riveiro on the pitch after the stadium had emptied.

Josephs has never hidden his love for Pirates which he played for between 2008 and 2013, with McCarthy joining him in 2011, and being a key figure as they won a league and cup double in the 2011-12 season.

The two have since forged a great friendship and worked together during McCarthy’s time as AmaZulu coach before the former Manchester United first-team coach when he was hired as Harambee Stars tactician.

Africa is home to some of the best football stadiums in the world. Here is a look at the top 5 most beautiful stadiums in the continent.

Josephs’ immediate task is in the upcoming matches against The Gambia on March 20 and Gabon three days later, having named South African-based duo Ian Otieno and Brian Bwire as well as Faruk Shikalo in the morning for Thursday’s match set to be staged in Abidjan, Ivory Coast.