”Don’t be alarmed,” was the instant, understandable response from Bafana Bafana media officer Sifiso Cele on Friday after he announced that striking kingpin Benni McCarthy would only be joining the squad 48 hours before the game against world champions Italy in Siena on Wednesday.
Bafana are currently training at the ultra-modern Adidas facility on the outskirts of Nurenberg, and McCarthy is the only one among the 22 players who has not turned up in Germany.
”But it is a pre-arranged agreement between Benni’s English club, Blackburn Rovers, and Safa [the South African Football Association],” said Cele, ”and we are satisfied with the reasons they have given for requesting his late arrival.”
”He is due to join the rest of the players in Italy on Monday,” added the Bafana media officer, ”and we have no reason to believe he will not be there as arranged.”
In spite of the assurances, however, McCarthy past record in such matters will undoubtedly plant seeds of doubt in the minds of many South Africans.
”Meanwhile,” added Cele, ”nothing could be better as far as the facilities at the training camp are concerned — with coach Carlos Alberto Parreira, a well-versed international traveller if ever there was one, declaring they are undoubtedly among the finest in the world.” — Sapa