Ben Somerford
For all the success of the Bafana Bafana at the 2009 Confederations Cup, they must feel they perhaps could have gone further in the tournament with a true finisher. The opening day 0-0 draw with Iraq should have been a win, the 2-0 victory over New Zealand should have been by more, and the 1-0 loss to Brazil could have been the other way round had the South Africans taken their chances when they were on top.
That’s why it is crucial that the South African Football Association (SAFA) and former UEFA Champions League winner Benni McCarthy reconcile their differences and unite ahead of the 2010 World Cup. McCarthy, an accomplished 31 year-old striker plying his trade with English Premier League club Blackburn Rovers, is currently out of favour with the SAFA and Bafana Bafana boss Joel Santana over disputes centering around pay, injuries and general politicking.
The situation is a real shame for football in the nation, especially ahead of the World Cup next year in South Africa when it is important for the hosts to do well, as is highlighted by the example of Korea in 2002. So without doubt, with less than a year to go prior to kick-off at next year’s World Cup, it is time for the SAFA and McCarthy to put politics aside.
And while South Africa’s fourth-place finish at the 2009 Confederations Cup will give the nation confidence ahead of 2010, the reality is they were missing that killer instinct or punch to really threaten the trophy and will need to find it before next year.
The fact that South Africa had only scored two goals in 430 minutes of Confederations Cup football before Katlego Mphela’s dramatic late brace against Spain, is evidence enough to support the claim the Bafana Bafana need to add some firepower.
So it seems crazy that a player like McCarthy, who has scored 31 goals at international level and just last season hit 13 goals in England domestically, can be ignored.
In a recent interview with goal.com, McCarthy distanced himself from the clash claiming the decision lay with SAFA.
"The decision has been made by the federation and the coach and I accept it. I do not understand it, but it does not surprise me. Throughout my career I have had various clashes with heads of organisations and now perhaps this is my final goodbye to the national team," McCarthy said.
Indeed McCarthy’s relationship with the national team has been volatile.
After playing a part in the 1998 and 2002 World Cups, McCarthy decided to retire from the national team in 2002 before returning in 2004.
But since then McCarthy has caused conflict with SAFA by withdrawing on numerous occasions from national team matches at late notice, most recently in March when he missed friendlies against Norway and Portugal citing a mysterious hamstring injury.
Bafana Bafana boss Santana said at the time, “Our selection is not based only on how good a player is but also on the correct attitude," before omitting McCarthy from the Confederations Cup squad.
But McCarthy recently responded in the media by saying, "When they have called me, I have gone, even when I have been injured. What has happened is that Benni says things clearly and that hurts the federation, as well as the coach.
"Now it does not depend on me, but I think it is difficult to be included if they do not want me for the Confederations Cup. My international phase is almost over and not because I am 31. I still have desires and a lot of football left in these boots," said McCarthy.
McCarthy claiming it ‘doesn’t depend on him’ and distancing himself from the clash isn’t going to help the issue. It is clear there has been a misunderstanding between the two parties and it needs to be resolved.
The withdrawal by McCarthy in March for the Norway and Portugal friendlies was the catalyst for Santana to pull the plug on him. And Santana’s decision involves the belief that McCarthy was in fact fit for those matches.
Indeed such an assumption is based on medical reports from both club and country doctors.
Bafana Bafana team doctor Ephraim Nematswerani said in March, “I had a telephone discussion with Benni, following up on the report I had received from his club's medical team, but Benni insisted that he feels tremendous pain from a hamstring injury. The player's club found that the hamstring was normal and that the club had no objection for McCarthy to travel.”
Nevertheless, McCarthy insists he is desperate to play for his nation at 2010, saying, "That is even worse for me, because I had a lot of desire to play with the national team in my home country in the first World Cup in Africa."
Santana perhaps feels McCarthy is trying to pull the wool over his eyes, by not being involved in the matches he believes are ‘not important’ whilst wanting to play in the glamour matches like the Confederations Cup and the World Cup.
But what ever there differences are, it is clear South Africa would benefit from a fit and willing McCarthy up front.
The performances of South Africa’s frontmen Thembinkosi Fanteni, Katlego Mashego, Katlego Mphela and Bernard Parker in the Confederations Cup hardly would’ve filled Santana with confidence in his side’s goalscoring ability.
And the fact that South Africa dominated play at times and peppered Brazil’s goal in the semi-final of the Confederations Cup but just couldn’t convert, adds further fuel to the argument the Bafana Bafana need a true top-class finisher.
And there is no doubt McCarthy, despite not possessing blistering pace or outstanding skill, has the ability to tuck away chances when presented to him, like he has done in top European leagues in Spain, England and Portugal.
The question though, is can the SAFA, Santana and McCarthy come to a treaty and reach an agreement.
For so long African football has been hurt by internal bickering and politics, but with the continent about to break new ground and host it’s first ever World Cup tournament, perhaps South Africa can lead the way in reconciling this situation for the good of the nation.
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