Dora McCarthy is the mother of Benni McCarthy, one of South Africa’s most famous and successful footballers. She raised her son in a tough environment but supported his passion for the beautiful game.
She witnessed his rise to stardom, his triumphs and challenges, his pain and joy. She was a proud and loving mother who stood by her son, even when he was left out of the national team for the 2010 World Cup.
Early life and family
Dora McCarthy was born in Cape Town, South Africa, to Irish immigrant parents in the 1960s.
She grew up in a working-class family and married Dudley McCarthy, a local man who shared her Irish heritage. They had four children, three sons and a daughter.
Their youngest son, Benedict Saul, was born on November 12, 1977 and was nicknamed Benni.
Dora and Dudley live in Hanover Park, one of the areas in the Cape Flats, an area known for high unemployment and gang violence.
They struggled to make ends meet and provide a safe and stable environment for their children. They also faced discrimination and racism from the apartheid regime, the oppressive regime of black people in South Africa.
Benni’s football career
Benni started playing football at a young age, joining a local team called Young Pirates, which was managed by his uncles. He later joined the youth team of a local amateur club called Crusaders.
He showed great potential and skill and was soon noticed by a first division club, Seven Stars, at the age of 17. He impressed with his performances and scored 29 goals in his first season.
He then moved to Cape Town Spurs, who later merged with Seven Stars to form Ajax Cape Town, a support team for Dutch club Ajax. He attracted the attention of international scouts and was signed by Ajax in 1997.
He became the first South African to play in the Netherlands and quickly adapted to the European style of play. He won several trophies with Ajax, including the Eredivisie, KNVB Cup and UEFA Cup.
He also made his debut for the South African national team, Bafana Bafana, in 1997, in a friendly against the Netherlands.
He became a key player for his country, scoring 31 goals in 80 appearances. He was a member of the team that won the 1996 Africa Cup of Nations and qualified for the 1998 and 2002 World Cups.
He also won the Golden Boot and Player of the Tournament awards at the 1998 Africa Cup of Nations, where he scored seven goals, including four in one match against Namibia.
Benni’s success with Ajax and South Africa attracted the attention of several major European clubs. He moved to Spain in 1999, joining Celta Vigo, where he played alongside his idol, Brazilian legend Ronaldo.
He scored 10 goals in his first season and helped the club reach the quarter-finals of the UEFA Cup. He also scored a memorable goal against Juventus in the Champions League, which earned him the nickname “The black pearl of the Mediterranean.”
He then moved to Portugal in 2003, joining Porto, where he played under Jose Mourinho, one of the best coaches in the world.
He won the Primeira Liga, Portuguese Cup and UEFA Champions League with Porto, becoming the only South African to win the prestigious European trophy.
He scored two goals in the final against Monaco, becoming the tournament’s top scorer with six goals.
He then moved to England in 2006, joining Blackburn Rovers and becoming one of the Premier League’s most prolific strikers.
He scored 18 goals in his first season and 24 in his second, finishing as the league’s second-highest goalscorer behind Cristiano Ronaldo. He also won the League Cup with Blackburn in 2007, scoring the winning goal in the final against Tottenham Hotspur.
He moved to West Ham United in 2010, but injuries and poor form marred his time in charge. He scored just three goals in 14 appearances and was sacked by the club in 2011.
He then returned to South Africa and joined Orlando Pirates, where he won the treble of Premier Soccer League, Nedbank Cup and MTN 8 Cup in 2012. He retired from professional football in 2013 after scoring over 200 goals.
Benni’s coaching career
Benni did not give up football after retiring. He pursued a coaching career, obtaining his UEFA A and B licenses.
He began his career as assistant coach at Belgian club Sint-Truiden in 2015, working under former teammate Chris O’Loughlin.
He then became head coach of Cape Town City in 2017, leading the club to the MTN 8 Cup in 2018 and third place in the Premier Soccer League in 2019. He also won the 2019 Coach of the Season award.
He then moved to Scotland in 2020, becoming assistant coach at Hibernian, working under former manager Jack Ross.
He helped the club finish third in the Scottish Premiership in 2021 and qualify for the UEFA Europa Conference League. He also helped the club reach the 2021 Scottish Cup final, but they lost to St Johnstone.
He then moved to England in 2022, becoming first-team coach of Manchester United, working under his former mentor, Jose Mourinho.
He was responsible for the attacking and finishing aspects of the team and mentored the younger players. He helped the team improve their performance and challenge for the Premier League title and the UEFA Champions League.
Dora’s reaction to Benni’s elimination from the 2010 World Cup
Dora was devastated to learn that her son had not been selected for the South African squad for the 2010 World Cup, which their country was hosting. She had hoped to see her son play in front of a home crowd and make her country proud.
She blamed coach Carlos Alberto Parreira for his decision, saying he was biased and unfair. She also blamed the South African Football Association, saying they did not support her son and were jealous of his success.
She said she felt betrayed and heartbroken by the news and did not want to watch the World Cup. She said she would rather watch her son’s DVDs and reminisce about his glory days.
She said she was proud of her son and that he was the best player in the world. She said she loved him and that she would always support him.
Dora’s support for Benni’s coaching career
Dora has been supportive of her son’s coaching career, saying he has a wealth of knowledge and experience to share with the younger generation.
She said she was happy to see him pursue his passion and achieve his goals. She said she was proud of his achievements and that he was a good example for his children and community.
She said that she watches his games on TV and cheers for him and his team. She said that she hopes that one day he will coach the South African national team and lead them to glory. She said that she believes in him and that he has a bright future ahead of him.
Net worth
Dora McCarthy has amassed an estimated net worth of $1 million.
