Former Orlando Pirates Star Tokelo Rantie Reflects on His Mentorship by Benni McCarthy and His Deep Connection to Ruben Cloete During His Time in South Africa

Tokelo Rantie Opens Up About His Time at Orlando Pirates

Former Bafana Bafana striker Tokelo Rantie recently shared some fascinating insights about his short but impactful stint at Orlando Pirates, where he played alongside some of the best footballers in the country.

Rantie had a particularly close connection with Benni McCarthy during his time at the club, but, interestingly, Benni wasn’t his favorite player.

Instead, Rantie looked up to Benni as a mentor who guided him on and off the pitch.

Rantie Reflects on His Time at Pirates

During a recent appearance on the Trap and Pass podcast, the 34-year-old former footballer took a trip down memory lane and spoke about his experience at Orlando Pirates, despite his time there lasting just one season.

Rantie recalled, “I earned over 40 caps with the national team because of Orlando Pirates.

I was playing alongside some of the best players in the country.

Just imagine being that age and playing for Orlando Pirates; it was a huge opportunity. They had just come off winning the treble.”

It was a pressure-packed environment, with expectations high due to the club’s success, but Rantie embraced the challenge.

“There was a lot of pressure as I was surrounded by big names, and I also had my favorites.”

Benni McCarthy: Mentor, Not Favorite Player

When asked about his favorite player at Orlando Pirates, Rantie surprised many by revealing that it wasn’t Benni McCarthy, as most people would have expected.

Instead, he named Ruben Cloete as his favorite.

“To be honest, Benni McCarthy was not my favorite player; he was my mentor, my guardian angel.

My favorite player was Ruben Cloete,” Rantie said with a smile.

While Benni served as his mentor, teaching him valuable lessons about being a forward, it was Ruben Cloete who really stood out to him for his off-field guidance.

“Benni was my mentor.

Everything I learned as a forward came from him.

But Ruben Cloete… that guy used to sit with me outside and educate me about certain defenders,” he shared.

Reunion with Benni McCarthy at Cape Town City

After his time at Orlando Pirates, Rantie reunited with Ben