New Bafana Bafana coach Joel Santana passed his first test in charge of the national squad when he put his foot down and decided to withdraw troublesome striker Benni McCarthy from next month’s four 2010 African Nations Cup qualifying matches.
Santana and his technical team met with the temperamental Blackburn Rovers striker on Wednesday afternoon and decided that it was best that McCarthy resume his holiday in Cape Town after the end of the English Premiership season.
McCarthy failed to arrive in camp on Monday to prepare for Sunday’s crunch opening group four qualifier against Nigeria in Abuja, citing ”personal problems” for his failure to honour Santana’s call-up.
Bafana play Equatorial Guinea twice and Sierra Leone (away) in what are four tough back-to-back qualifiers in June.
Said Santana: ”It was a tough decision to make considering I only arrived in the country last week to take charge of the national team. I think the decision is in the best interest for both Benni and the squad. ”
Santana, who last week replaced highly respected fellow Brazilian countryman Carlos Alberto Parreira, stressed that the door remained open for McCarthy to return to the national side in the future.
McCarthy was present at Wednesday’s press conference where Santana informed the media of his decision concerning the England-based striker. Both Santana and McCarthy were not allowed to answer questions from the media but both made statements.
McCarthy said he respected Santana’s decision and wanted the matter finalised.
”I had a positive meeting with the new coach,” said McCarthy. ”I respect him for talking to me and for his understanding of my problems. He is a good coach and I look forward to working with him in the future.
”It is unfortunate I have problems to deal with at this stage, but I intend returning [to Bafana] once they are sorted out. I am pleased that the coach said the door is still open. I intend to play in other games, be they friendly or qualifying matches. I hope in future to work towards our common goal and that is the 2010 World Cup finals.”
Parreira virtually begged McCarthy to end his 18-month self-imposed international isolation last September. McCarthy decided to turn his back on Bafana after he was allegedly accused by the vice-president of the South African Football Association (Safa), Mohamed Mubarak, of causing problems with the squad during the African Nations Cup finals that were held in Egypt in January 2006. Bafana failed to score a goal or point during their worst-ever showing in the continental showpiece.
McCarthy pledged his loyalty to Parreira but was then ”dropped” by Parreira for the African Nations Cup finals in Ghana in January this year. But few believed Parreira had dropped what he had termed ”South Africa’s best player”.
It is widely believed Parreira had agreed not to select McCarthy for Ghana as part of the deal to get McCarthy to play for his country again and end his exile.
McCarthy has a history of problems with Safa. He has become a disturbing influence inside the camp by the way he seems to be able to pick and choose the games he plays.
But under new coach and hard man Santana he might just have met his match.
Said Santana: ”I hope this is the last time I have to deal with this type of Benni problem.”
Assistant coach Pitso Mosimane said: ”It will be business as usual against Nigeria. We will miss his experience but we have other players ready to step up to the challenge.” — Sapa