MARK GLEESON, Johannesburg | Thursday 6.00pm.
STRIKER Benedict McCarthy has agreed to come out of international retirement and play for South Africa in the African Nations Cup finals.
But his surprise announcement has left South African officials with a bureaucratic headache as they seek to find a place for him in the 22-man squad.
McCarthy’s return was announced by South African Football Association president Molefi Oliphant on Thursday, a few hours after the deadline for submitting the squad list to the Confederation of African Football (CAF) in Cairo.
McCarthy, player of the tournament at the last finals in Burkina Faso, quit the South African team last September, saying he was unhappy with his heavy international schedule and wanted to focus on his club career with Celta Vigo in Spain.
But after a meeting on Wednesday between Oliphant and the player’s business manager, Rob Moore, the 22-year-old forward has undergone a change of heart.
Earlier this week coach Trott Moloto said he was not interested in a possible return by McCarthy but on Thursday he said he was now prepared to find a place for the striker.
”Many unfortunate things were said before this matter was cleared up but it’s all water under the bridge and we want to move forward,” Oliphant told reporters.
South Africa submitted their squad to CAF by Wednesday’s midnight deadline but CAF officials said on Thursday the fax had not come out legibly.
Under competition rules late changes may be made only in case of injury but the scrambled fax has raised hopes that McCarthy might be allowed to play when the South African authorities re-submit the composition of their squad.
Oliphant said CAF had been informed of a possible late change but would not give details of who would have to make way. — Reuters