Benedict 'Bennie' Saul McCarthy was born in Cape Town in November 12, 1977. His soccer career began with the Cape Town based club, Cape Town Spurs. He made his first national appearance for Bafana Bafana in 1997 against Netherlands, when South Africa lost to the visiting side by two goals. After this game, the managers of Ajax an Amsterdam-based club, showed interest in the young star, thus began Bennie's international soccer career.
Apart from being a football player, Bennie also made himself popular in the music industry in 1998 when he featured in a single album titled Shibobo by a local kwaito group, TKZee. This album was aimed at enhancing the first Bafana Bafana World Cup Campaign in 1998. The album's video showcased Bennie and other local and international football players making their shibobo moves. While TKZee also made their fame out of the album, Bennie, whose fame became more talked about since that year to the present moment, mostly felt the effects.As a striker, Bennie has scored 21 goals for Bafana Bafana in 46 international caps. His most spoken about goals with the national team are the four goals he scored in 1998 during the African Cup of Nations against the Namibian side. Like many football players, Bennie has been through difficult moments with the South African Football Association over club to country interest. In many occasions Bennie has been unable to honour his call up for the national side because of club commitments. Currently Bennie is playing for the FC Porto in Portugal. Here he has made 29 appearances and scored 20 goals.
Soccer Career
1997 – 1998 Ajax Holland
1999 – 2000 Ajax Holland
1999 – 2000 Celta Vigo (Spain)
2000 – 2001 Celta Vigo (Spain)
2001 – 2002 Celta Vigo (Spain)
2001 – 2002 FC Porto (Portugal)
2002 – 2003 Celta Vigo (Spain)
2003 – 2004 FC Porto (Portugal)
Soccer Merits
1997 – 1999 Dutch Cup
1997 – 1998 Dutch League
2003 – 2004 Champions League
2002 – 2003 Portuguese Super Cup
2003 – 2004 Portuguese League
Benedict 'Bennie' Saul McCarthy was born in Cape Town in November 12, 1977. His soccer career began with the Cape Town based club, Cape Town Spurs. He made his first national appearance for Bafana Bafana in 1997 against Netherlands, when South Africa lost to the visiting side by two goals. After this game, the managers of Ajax an Amsterdam-based club, showed interest in the young star, thus began Bennie's international soccer career.
Apart from being a football player, Bennie also made himself popular in the music industry in 1998 when he featured in a single album titled Shibobo by a local kwaito group, TKZee. This album was aimed at enhancing the first Bafana Bafana World Cup Campaign in 1998. The album's video showcased Bennie and other local and international football players making their shibobo moves. While TKZee also made their fame out of the album, Bennie, whose fame became more talked about since that year to the present moment, mostly felt the effects.As a striker, Bennie has scored 21 goals for Bafana Bafana in 46 international caps. His most spoken about goals with the national team are the four goals he scored in 1998 during the African Cup of Nations against the Namibian side. Like many football players, Bennie has been through difficult moments with the South African Football Association over club to country interest. In many occasions Bennie has been unable to honour his call up for the national side because of club commitments. Currently Bennie is playing for the FC Porto in Portugal. Here he has made 29 appearances and scored 20 goals.
Soccer Career
1997 – 1998 Ajax Holland
1999 – 2000 Ajax Holland
1999 – 2000 Celta Vigo (Spain)
2000 – 2001 Celta Vigo (Spain)
2001 – 2002 Celta Vigo (Spain)
2001 – 2002 FC Porto (Portugal)
2002 – 2003 Celta Vigo (Spain)
2003 – 2004 FC Porto (Portugal)
Soccer Merits
1997 – 1999 Dutch Cup
1997 – 1998 Dutch League
2003 – 2004 Champions League
2002 – 2003 Portuguese Super Cup
2003 – 2004 Portuguese League