Andrew Muchineripi Soccer
The club-versus-country web that has entangled Benni McCarthy extends far beyond the borders of South Africa and cannot be cut without worldwide co- operation between clubs and national associations.
World governing body Fifa is actively pursuing an international calendar that will reserve time for club and national team fixtures and, equally important, a time for players to rest weary bodies.
Unless there is harmony among the continents, and agreement between national associations and the big clubs of Europe, the list of McCarthys will grow and grow.
South African footballers will use Bafana Bafana as a shop window for prospective buyers from Europe and, once a contract is clinched, turn their backs on the national team.
It is all about money. While the South African Football Association (Safa) is easily the most generous on the continent when it comes to allowances and bonuses, they pay “peanuts” compared to European club salaries.
No one is more in love with Mother Africa than this humble member of the Muchineripi clan, but I would be deluding you to suggest that Africa can one day match the staggering salaries paid around Europe.
The bottom line is demand. Virtually every country in the world screens Manchester United v Croatia Zagreb or Chelsea versus AC Milan in the European Champions League and stations pay small fortunes for exclusive rights.
I had little interest in e.tv until I spotted print advertisements informing me that the newcomer had secured the rights to the Champions League previously held by SABC TV.
My teenage son may be hopeless when it comes to tending cattle, but he produced an e.tv picture faster than you could say European Champions League.
No phone calls were taken at Chateau Muchineripi this Tuesday or Wednesday. Even my beloved wife, who shows about as much interest in Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates as I do in American baseball, insisted on watching Manchester United and yelled her approval when Quinton Fortune came on.
Now let us turn to Africa. Last year SuperSport International screened live each match in the African Champions League except, believe it or not, the second leg of the final. Come last month and the start of the 1999 edition, there was no coverage.
The claims of a year ago that SuperSport International was dedicated to the sports fans of Africa rang hollow indeed. While I disapprove of what the men and women in Randburg have done I understand their thinking.
To borrow a phrase from Ruud Gullit, Arsenal versus Manchester United is very “sexy”; Raja Casablanca versus Hearts of Oak is not.
I cannot see this situation changing soon and, as a proud grandfather, certainly not in my lifetime. Europe rules and I am proud that more and more Africans are becoming part of the most beautifully woven tapestry in football. McCarthy will be back, I can assure you.
Like a child torn between his divorced parents, he has run crying to his room, slammed the door shut and decided to play with the toys he loves most. Bafana Bafana made McCarthy and he has no right to say “no more” at such a tender age.
But South African football does not own McCarthy and cannot call him up each time a senior or under-23 international is scheduled.
There has to be a compromise so that his club career can take off following a false start at Dutch club Ajax.
There has to be a compromise so that South Africa can benefit from his God- given football talent. Safa chief executive Raymond Hack used South American superstars Ronaldo and Gabriel Batistuta as examples of over-used players who still appear for their countries.
However, he forgot to add that Ronaldo missed the recent Confederations Cup as he needed a break after the European club season and the South American championship while Batistuta seldom plays in friendlies.
Much was made by national coach Trott Moloto of the willingness of Mark Fish to return which is a little naughty given that the defender wants to leave Bolton Wanderers and they no longer choose him.
Speaking of England, McCarthy has often spoken of his desire to play for the team he loves most, Manchester United, especially now that the mail of fellow Capetonian Quinton Fortune is posted to Old Trafford.
To join an English club, foreigners must play in 75% of international matches so McCarthy will be back, hopefully sooner than later and without too much rancour.
But until Singapore, Sweden, Switzerland, South Africa and Seychelles play on the same dates, the battle between increasingly unhappy European clubs and national associations seems set to continue with everyone a loser.