Mosimane says familiarity with McCarthy will not decide AFCON qualifiers

Bafana Bafana coach Pitso Mosimane says his previous working relationship with Kenya manager Benni McCarthy will not give either coach a decisive advantage before their back-to-back Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.

The two sides meet at Orlando Stadium next Friday, with the return fixture taking place in Nairobi on Tuesday.

Mosimane and McCarthy know each other well. They worked together at Bafana Bafana when Mosimane was an assistant and McCarthy was a player, while they later opposed one another as managers during Mosimane’s time at Mamelodi Sundowns and McCarthy’s spell in charge of Cape Town City.

But speaking at Thursday’s announcement of his final 27-man squad at SABC Studios, Mosimane played down the importance of that history.

“I guess everybody knows how Barcelona play, right? Everyone knows how Arsenal play. Everyone knows how Bayern Munich play. Everyone has analysts even four. Everyone knows how you play,” Mosimane said.

“It doesn’t mean that when I know an opponent, I have an advantage. No, it just gives me a little bit of data and I understand certain patterns and what is most likely to happen.”

Mosimane used Orlando Pirates’ strong home form to illustrate his point, saying that detailed knowledge of a team does not necessarily make it easier to beat them in familiar surroundings.

Pirates have not dropped a point at Orlando Amstel Arena this season, winning every match they have played there across all competitions.

That record has helped keep their Betway Premiership title defence on course. The Buccaneers have also reached the CAF Champions League group stage, the MTN8 final and the Carling Knockout Cup quarter-finals.

They host Sekhukhune United in the Carling Knockout Cup on Saturday at 3pm.

“Everyone knows Pirates play until they get to Orlando Amstel Arena,” Mosimane said. “So it’s the way it is in football.”

Mosimane made a successful return to Bafana Bafana by taking advantage of home conditions at Orlando in his first match of his second spell in charge.

He will now look to preserve that record against McCarthy, who experienced memorable occasions at eSgodini both as a player with Pirates and later during his coaching career in the PSL.