Mkhalele: Benni has what it takes to coach Orlando Pirates

Legendary Bafana Bafana midfielder Helman Mkhalele has backed Benni McCarthy for the Orlando Pirates coaching job.

This is after recent reports tipped the former Bucs striker to replace caretaker coach Augusto Palacios as the permanent head coach at the Soweto giants.

Although, McCarthy, 39, lacks the necessary coaching experience needed to guide a team of Pirates' caliber, Mkhalele feels that McCarthy has qualities of a good coach.

"Yes, for me Benni is ready. He can definitely do the job as the Pirates head coach," Mkhalele told Goal .

"Firstly, he gained an enormous amount of experience during his playing career. He was playing at the highest level. He also has the personality to lead and guide such a big team," he said.

"Furthermore, he recently received his coaching qualification, (the Uefa A License) which is one of the highest coaching qualifications available.

"Whoever takes over as the new head coach needs to make sure the players are in the right frame of mind as professional footballers," the former Ankaragücü winger added.

"The players need to be mentally and physically ready to play for a club as big as Pirates,"  Mkhalele concluded.

Mkhalele, 47, was once roped in as the Bafana assistant coach ahead of the 2016 African Nations Championship (Chan) qualifier against Angola two years ago.