Benni McCarthy: South Africa's PSL is a strong league and Bafana Bafana's arrival in Morocco with mostly local players is testament to that fact

Benni McCarthy has expressed his pride for Bafana Bafana ahead of the Africa Cup of Nations.

McCarthy, the national football legend, who is currently the head coach of Kenya’s Harambee Stars, said that Bafana are in Morocco with mostly their local based players is testament the PSL is a strong league.

“The thing that I’m most proud of is that they are one country that has a complete national team built up from local players that play in South Africa,” McCarthy told Sporty TV.

“That shows that the South African league has progressed so much that the league is competitive, it’s good and it’s strong.

“Almost all the players play in South Africa. When they go to the international level, they are able to then raise their game and compete against the international teams. And that is inspiring.

“We have about three or four players that come from abroad. It’s a domestic national team but very well-groomed team.”

The former AmaZulu and Cape Town City coach remains the country’s leading goal-scorer with 31 goals announced his arrival on the international stage fabulous four goals against Namibia Bafana’s 4-1 win.

He is also one South African to have won the UEFA Champions League when he lifted it with FC Porto in 2004. During his time with Bafana, they had players in various European Leagues.

“Our team, almost all our players were coming from abroad,” he added.

“So, all our players were all playing in Italy, England, Spain, Germany and Turkey. They were playing for big teams. But now, all of our players are based in South Africa.