Kenya head coach Benni McCarthy has warned his home country that nostalgia will count for nothing when his side takes on South Africa in their upcoming back-to-back AFCON qualifiers.
Bafana Bafana host Kenya at Orlando Stadium on Friday, 13 November, before travelling to Nairobi four days later for the reverse fixture.
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The Bafana legend admitted to feeling mixed emotions about coaching against the national team he once represented, especially on home soil.
However, McCarthy made it clear that even though Kenya has already qualified automatically as co-hosts, his side won’t be handing out any free passes.
“Mixed emotions because I go home to where my roots are,” said McCarthy during the interview with Sporty TV.
“I go to a place that I once called a home once upon a time, Orlando Stadium. I go home to adoring fans that always cheered, supported me no matter what.
“I’ve always had unbelievable moments in front of them. Now, I’m on another side of the dugout. I’m against everything that I’ve helped build to where it is now.
“While it’s mixed emotions, but it’s proud moments because I’m still representing my country even though I’m a head coach for the opposition team.
“But I’d want the very best for my country but I’ll definitely not make it easy for them as we are hosting the AFCON next.
“We’ll go out there and give everything we’ve got. We will try not make them comfortable and just hope for the best.”