Benni McCarthy to miss Confederation Cup clash due to European trip

by Graeme Jackson

Tuesday Mar 06, 2018. 16:30

Cape Town City coach Benni McCarthy will miss his team’s CAF Champions League match in Maputo against Costa do Sol tomorrow as he is in Europe attending to coaching license requirements.

The former South African international flew out on Monday to continue his UEFA Pro Licence coaching course, which will see him study the UEFA Champions League clash between Manchester City and Basel at the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday night.

“I will be at the Manchester City and Basel game, because we have to do a club visit and we have to watch a Champions League game,” McCarthy explained, as quoted by Kick-Off.

“With everyone who is on the Pro License course at the match, we then get put in groups, where one group will manage and (find) solutions for Man City, and others for Basel.

“So we have to assist the Champions League game, and then the next day we do a club visit which would be at the Manchester City training academy.”

McCarthy will return to Europe at the end of April for a visit to the FIFA headquarters, but insists that Cape Town City boss John Comitis was well aware of the coach’s desire to complete his qualification.

“I am away again from 30 April until 3 May – that is when we go to the FIFA headquarters, together with other FAs,” he said.

“So I will be away again, but it is not like John didn’t know before. I told them that I wanted to finish my Pro License, so I am not missing out and waiting another year. I’d rather get it over and done with.

“Looking at the calculations now, I don’t see us getting relegated unless we lose every single game from now on until the end. So we are pretty much safe, even if I’m not here.”