Benni McCarthy is well and alive — and raring to play for Bafana Bafana in the forthcoming African Nations Cup.
This was the emphatic assurance given by Bafana coach Ted Dumitru on Tuesday while refuting reports that the dazzling, but enigmatic Porto striker, intended asking the South African Football Association (Safa) to release him from the tournament in Egypt.
McCarthy is in full harness in the Bafana training camp after arriving three days late because of his father’s illness in Cape Town — and Dumitru says he is ”over the moon” about his form, fitness and commitment to the national team’s cause.
”Benni has assured me there was no truth to the report of his reluctance to play in the African Nations Cup,” said Dumitru, ”and I believe it was simply a mischievous ploy on the part of someone to keep him in Portugal.
”But what is particularly pleasing,” said Dumitru, ”is his attitude and enthusiasm about playing for Bafana and making a good impression. In Egypt — and obviously with his record and experience he is going to be a vital factor in our plans for the
tournament.”
Dumitru was also upbeat about what he described as ”a 100% satisfactory medical report” on the players who had received injuries in the practice outing against a PSL XI at Johannesburg Stadium on Thursday.
”I was worried about Nkosinathi Nhleko’s ankle injury, in particular, but he has made a remarkably quick recovery and is back in traiing along with Sibusiso Zuma, Pierre Issa and Siyabonga Nomvete –other players who received knocks in
the practice game.”
The only club baulking over releasing a member of the Bafana squad 14 days before the tournament in Egypt as stipulated by Fifa is Blackburn Rovers’ Aaron Mokoena.
But Dumitru remains uncompromising on the issue and says the matter will be taken up with Fifa if Blackburn do not ”abide by the letter of the law”. – Sapa