Bafana Bafana ”bad boy” Benni McCarthy has pledged his loyalty to his country and to new national coach Joel Santana.
McCarthy on Wednesday made a complete about-turn after a heart-to heart meeting with Santana and team captain Aaron Mokoena in London. This was after Bafana and Australia drew 2-2 in a hard-fought friendly international played at the Loftus Road Stadium in London on Tuesday night.
The friendly was used by Santana to prepare Bafana for their win-or-bust 2010 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) group four qualifier against Nigeria in Port Elizabeth on September 6.
McCarthy turned his back on Santana and Bafana in June when he failed to honour his call-up for the four crunch 2010 Afcon qualifiers, citing ”personal family problems” for not wanting to play against the likes of Nigeria, Equatorial Guinea and Sierra Leone.
Bafana, without McCarthy, managed only four points from four matches and are virtually out of the running to qualify for the 2010 Afcon showpiece in Angola.
McCarthy, who plays for English Premiership outfit Blackburn Rovers, in a statement released by the South African Football Association (Safa) on Wednesday, said he was tired of the negative reports about him.
Said McCarthy: ”I want the nation to know that when I get bad publicity questioning my commitment, it makes me feel like I am not a South African.”
But the Rovers and national team striker has a habit of putting his foot in it and creating his own negative publicity. In an article in Laduma recently, McCarthy took a swipe at the way Safa run Bafana and criticised the selectors for favouring players from Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates, and those who speak Zulu or Xhosa.
McCarthy said he wanted to be part of the 2010 World Cup team. He had a storming match against the Socceroos, having a hand in both goals, and looked a class above most of the other players on the pitch.
He was happy with the outcome of the meeting with Santana, where the coach outlined his vision for the 2010 World Cup.
Said McCarthy: ”It was a positive meeting and frank. Coach Santana asked whether I can commit to being available throughout the remainder of the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers and to all games that I am called up to honour. I told the coach I will be available because I love my country, and I want to show that in every game, I can play just like last night [Tuesday].”
McCarthy, who is the country’s leading goal scorer with 30 goals, said Bafana had a bright future. ”We have to be positive. The way we played against a good team like Australia showed we have the talent and direction. What we need now is the enthusiasm of the people of South Africa.”
He appealed to fans to get behind Bafana for the reaming two qualifiers, especially the clash against Nigeria in Port Elizabeth on September 6.
Santana said he was happy with the outcome of his meeting with his two most experienced players.
”I talked to them about my expectations and the leadership role I expect both of them to play. I am happy with the commitment they have made to the country’s vision of a world-class team for 2010 and to their responsibilities to South Africa.” — Sapa