Benni McCarthy: Teko Modise decides when he plays

Cape Town City coach Benni McCarthy spoke to DYLAN APPOLIS about the relationship between himself and veteran midfielder Teko ‘The General’ Modise.

At the age of 35‚ ‘The General’ as he’s affectionately know, should be approaching the end of his illustrious career, but under coach McCarthy, he has revived his career at City after struggling under Pitso Mosimane at Sundowns.

Bafana Bafana duo Teko Modise and Benni McCarthy

McCarthy says he has built up a close relationship with Modise over the years, having played together for 14 games in the Bafana Bafana team, declaring the midfielder has earned his respect.

‘Like last season, [with] each individual player I have my way of managing them, Surprise [Rulani] is different to Teko [Modise], [Roland] Putsche to Shaka [Siphelele Mthembu]. With Teko, for me its more about what he can give me and what I think he can give the team.

‘I always ask him when he wants to play not that players have preference. We were teammates and I think he’s earned my respect. For me to have this type of relationship with him, I’ve seen it when I was a younger player, how [Jose] Mourinho was with the senior players, not that I’m saying I want to be like him.

‘I think you get the best out of them when you select the kind of games they want to play. Obviously, you have to consider traveling and the strain you take on your body. If you over 32, your body responds differently to someone like Craig Martin.

Cape Town City coach Benni McCarthy with Teko Modise

‘We have our decisions with certain games and certain trips. If he wants to be involved or if he wants to sit this one out, it’s his choice and that’s the relationship I have with him. He always gives me an honest assessment of himself,’ he added.

‘He knows his body better than me. The fitness guys might say “no he’s okay, he can play two 90 minute games”, but if he tells me otherwise I have to go with what he says. If he gives me an indication that his legs are tired then somebody else gets the nod,’ he concluded.

Over the course of his career, Modise has managed to score 39 goals and assisted a further 51 from 321 appearances in all competitions while playing for the likes of SuperSport United, Orlando Pirates, Mamelodi Sundowns and Cape Town City.

Morgan Gould, Teko Modise, Anele Ngcongca and Benni McCarthy

On an international level, he has racked up 55 appearances for the South African national team while scoring 10 goals since making his debut in May 2007 under then-coach Carlos Alberto Parreira.