Look before you leap.
Learn to crawl before you run.
Meng jou met die semels, dan vreet die vark jou op.
We’ve all heard these warnings from our elders or someone giving us a caution about doing something risky or stupid.
Proverbs like these become almost cliche because of their everyday use.
But there is truth to them, passed down by people who have taken the path and hit the pitfalls.
So you shouldn’t take their warnings lightly.
And this brings me to Benni McCarthy and the Bafana Bafana coaching job.
Take a look at that job and think twice about it.
If I were him, I’d stay as far away from that job as Hartleyvale is from Safa House.
Just look at the recent history of the men who left the job and the manner of the exit.
Pitso Mosimane lost his job because no one knew the rules for qualification for Afcon and was embarrassed.
CURSED HIS BOSS: Bra Shakes. Photo: Sydney Mahlangu/BackpagePix.
Shakes Mashaba was so gatvol of his Safa bosses that he cursed them in celebration of a win.
And Stuart Baxter was never given a full coaching team.
Why would anyone want the job, when they already have a paying job?
Walking into Safa House is like walking into a circus where the clowns play the monkeys, lions and don’t even mention the elephants in the room.
If I were Benni, I’d be flattered by people saying I am the right man to make the national team a force again.
Hell, I’d even feel valued that my legendary contribution as a player was recognised and my work as a coach was admired.
But how long would that honeymoon period last?
How soon would the knives be out if Benni left now, as he gives up his Cape Town City job without fulfilling his ambition of winning the league this season?
Imagine.
LOST HIS JOB: Ex-Bafana coach Pitso Mosimane. Photo: BackpagePix.
Pitso had won league titles before he took the Bafana job. Baxter too.
But these manne still get no respect.
How soon before Benni is chopped liver?
My experience, you’re only as good as your boss if you see a bigger picture, he’ll try to poke your eye, see less than them and they’ll try to apply their vision.
Bra Jingles, Bra Shakes and Baxter will tell you the same thing.
And if Benni realises this, he will happily continue with his good work at City.
There he has a chairman who backs him, who believes in him and someone who appreciates him.
He doesn’t have a backstabber who constantly undermines him even though he has no idea what is really going on. Benni already has the tools and time to get his job done.
NEVER GIVEN ANY SUPPORT: Stuart Baxter. Photo: Gavin Barker/BackpagePix.
Benni will do well to win the league even though he is challenging Mamelodi Sundowns and Orlando Pirates while still punching above his weight against the likes of SuperSport United, Kaizer Chiefs and Wits.
Maybe once the leadership at Safa changes to the hands of a Lucas Radebe, Benni should consider taking the job then.
But right now, Safa have proven that they don’t back you, equip you or can share your vision.
Benni will be wasting his time and energy at Safa House, as would any coach.