Mc Carthy with Irvin Khoza Olando Parites Chairman
Benni McCarthy on Tuesday signed a two-year deal with South African league champions Orlando Pirates, confirming a return to his home country’s domestic football for the first time since 1997.
The 33-year-old former Bafana Bafana striker had been tipped to join The Buccaneers since the end of last week, having ruled out a move to Ajax Cape Town where he had been training, complaining that the Urban Warriors showed a lack of ambition.
McCarthy returns to South African football for the first time since 1997, when he left Seven Stars to join Ajax Amsterdam. A fine career in Europe followed, including a UEFA Champions League winners medal with FC Porto in 2004.
McCarthy was the first South Africa to win the UEFA Champions League, and had featured strongly for Jose Mourinho’s team in their run to the final, including a two-goal haul in their last 16 win over Manchester United.
He has also played for Celta Vigo (Spain), Blackburn Rovers (England) and most recently West Ham United, which he left in April with a pay-off after a much-publicised battle with weight issues.
McCarthy says he has the ambition of becoming the first player to win both the UEFA and CAF Champions Leagues, with Pirates set to play in the African competition in 2012.