Tokelo Rantie Reveals His Favorite Orlando Pirates Teammate and How Benni McCarthy Served as His Mentor in South Africa

Former Bafana Bafana striker Tokelo Rantie recently shared insights into his time at Orlando Pirates, revealing some surprising details about his relationships with his teammates, especially Benni McCarthy.

While many would expect McCarthy to be Rantie’s favorite player, he disclosed that it was actually someone else who earned that spot in his heart.

Benni McCarthy as a Mentor, Not a Favorite

In an interview on the Trap and Pass podcast, Rantie reflected on his brief but memorable stint at Orlando Pirates during the 2011/12 season, where he helped the team secure its second consecutive treble.

He spoke fondly of his experience at the club, acknowledging the immense opportunity it was to play alongside some of South Africa’s best footballers at such a young age.

However, when it came to his favorite player, Rantie had a different answer from what most people might expect.

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

Despite their strong connection on the field, where they combined to score 17 league goals that season, Rantie revealed that his true favorite player at Pirates was Ruben Cloete.

Ruben Cloete’s Impact on Rantie’s Development

Rantie didn’t shy away from explaining why Ruben Cloete held such a special place in his heart.

While Benni McCarthy played a key role as a mentor, teaching him the ropes of being a forward, Cloete took on a different kind of guidance. “Benni was my mentor.

Everything I learned as a forward came from him,” Rantie admitted.

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

It was Cloete’s deeper insights into the game that stood out to Rantie, especially in terms of understanding the tactics of defenders and how to break them down.

For Rantie, this type of coaching was invaluable and shaped his approach to the game.

The Brief Reunion at Cape Town City

Rantie and McCarthy would later cross paths again when Rantie joined Cape Town City.

Unfortunately, their reunion was short-lived, as Rantie’s contract was terminated shortly after he arrived.

Despite this, their bond from their time at Pirates remained significant in Rantie’s career, with McCarthy’s mentorship continuing to play a pivotal role.

Rantie’s reflections give a fascinating look into the dynamics of the Orlando Pirates team during one of their most successful periods.

Though McCarthy was a figure of authority and guidance, it was Cloete who, for Rantie, was the true inspiration.

This article was published on TDPel Media. Thanks for reading!

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