Cape Town City coach Benni McCarthy feels that South Africa will never be able to replace the talented Teko Modise in modern football, writes DYLAN APPOLIS.

The 36-year-old playmaker played his last match as a professional footballer during the Citizens 1-0 defeat to Black Leopards at the Thohoyandou Stadium on the final day of the 2018-19 Absa Premiership campaign. He featured for the likes of SuperSport United, Orlando Pirates, Mamelodi Sundowns and Cape Town City during his stellar career.

The former Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder also helped the Citizens secure fourth place in the league standings, while helping the club lift their maiden MTN8 trophy at the start of the 2018-19 campaign.

McCarthy praised the now retired midfielder and believes that today’s footballers can learn a lot from Modise’s discipline and sacrifices, on and off the field.

McCarthy, who played with Modise in the senior national team during his playing career, coached the creative midfielder for two seasons, and says players of today can learn a lot from how he conducted himself, both on and off the pitch.

‘Very proud legacy. He is one of the most decorated players that we have in the game, and I think what he has achieved, what he has done and what he has brought to this country, I think we have to applaud and we have to make some kind of homage for players like that because they don’t come around easy,’ McCarthy said.

‘When we have them, we don’t appreciate them, so yeah hopefully what ‘Dona’ has achieved inspires a lot of young players on how to live your life, how to be a gentlemen and a good ambassador for the sport and great role model for the kids.

‘He will surely be missed, and I don’t think we are ever going to replace a Teko Modise again because that talent you don’t find in modern day football anymore. That was talent in abundance, but hard work like you’ve never seen before. Clean lifestyle like you’ve never seen before. Discipline, sacrifice… players of today have got mountains to climb to possess those kinds of qualities that I just mentioned. Modise can be proud, and his family should be extremely proud for what he has achieved. I hope he does not go too far away from the game. He is one of the most knowledgeable players you can get.’

The former Bafana Bafana international will remain with the Citizens in a different role.