MARK GLEESON, Johannesburg | Friday 11.00am.
STRIKER Benni McCarthy will not be going to the African Nations Cup after a last-ditch effort to get him into the squad was rejected by coach Trott Moloto.
Moloto said on Friday he would make no late changes to his 22-man squad for the finals, which start on January 22, despite successful efforts by South African Football Association (Safa) officials to persuade the Spanish-based striker out of a premature international retirement.
The decision is an embarrassment for SAFA president Molefi Oliphant who called a news conference in Johannesburg on Thursday to announce the return of the 22-year-old forward, only for the coach to issue a statement hours later saying he would not select McCarthy.
McCarthy announced his retirement from international soccer last September, complaining demands from South Africa’s national team and under-23 side were having an adverse effect on his career with Spanish club Celta Vigo.
Government officials were involved in an attempt to persuade him to change his mind, culminating in a meeting on Wednesday between Oliphant and the player’s business manager, Rob Moore.
A deal was agreed for McCarthy to return to the squad and also make himself available later in the year for key matches, sources said.
But Moloto refused to countenance any changes to the squad he announced last month for the Nations Cup, in which South Africa are one of the four seeded teams.
”There was no way we could include McCarthy at this late stage,” he said.
McCarthy was the player of the tournament at the last Nations Cup finals in Burkina Faso in 1998 and joint top goalscorer.
He has scored 13 goals in 23 appearances for his country. — Reuters