Benni McCarthy could be to Bafana Bafana what Didier Drogba is to Côte d’Ivoire or what Michael Essien is to Ghana if he puts his mind to it — but once he makes himself available to play for South Africa again, he won’t be granted any special privileges.
This is the uncompromising stand of Bafana and former Brazil coach Carlos Alberto Parreira about the Blackburn Rovers striker who has finished the English Premiership season with 18 goals — second only to Chelsea’s Didier Drogba — but who has earned a reputation of being the enfant terrible of South African soccer for some of his on- and off-the-field antics.
”I simply cannot comprehend a player of McCarthy’s ability not wanting to represent his country in a World Cup they were themselves hosting,” said the articulate Parreira, ”but at the same time, once any player is included in a national squad I am coaching, he must accept the basic principle that rules are there for everyone to follow equally.”
He added: ”I have coached Brazilian teams that have included some of the greatest players in the history of the game like Romario, Ronaldo and Ronaldinho, and all of them have accepted the rules and conditions just like anyone else.
”This is an uncompromising condition because without it you are jeopardising team spirit, and no single player, no matter who he is, is bigger than the team.”
Parreira confirmed he has yet to speak to McCarthy personally, but once he has made contact he will seek ”a new begining” with the enigmatic Bafana star.
”I have heard a lot about Benni McCarthy, both good and bad,” he added, ”but I will judge him on my own experiences.”
Meanwhile, Agence France-Presse reports that Blackburn manager Mark Hughes has refuted reports that McCarthy could be joining one of the more glamorous clubs in Europe in order to participate in Uefa’s Champions League.
”I will do everything within my power to keep him at Blackburn,” added Hughes.
Pointedly, it was also the Blackburn manager who advised McCarthy not to endanger his career by returning to the international fold and making himself available for Bafana. — Sapa