The Bafana Bafana camp was given a major scare after arriving in Port Elizabeth for Saturday’s crunch 2010 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) qualifier against Nigeria when it was learned that Benni McCarthy is doubtful for the showdown with a groin injury.
Bafana head coach Joel Santana took the news of the Blackburn Rovers striker’s injury calmly, saying that the injury would be assessed when McCarthy arrives to join his national teammates on Tuesday to prepare for the clash against the Super Eagles.
”I cannot say more until our doctors have had a look and examined the injury as to how serious it is, or if it will keep him out of the game,” said the coach.
Santana badly needs McCarthy’s experience against the Super Eagles in what is a make-or-break game for Bafana if they hope to reach the next round of qualification for the 2010 showpiece, to be staged in Angola.
McCarthy made his peace with the South African Football Association and Santana when he played a star role in the 2-2 draw in a friendly international against Australia in London last month.
McCarthy turned his back on his country in June by opting to spend his off-season with his family and not playing in the Afcon group four qualifiers, where Bafana managed a mere four points from as many matches, which virtually wrecked South Africa’s chances of joining group leaders Nigeria in the final round of qualifying matches for Angola.
McCarthy (30) had a hand in both goals against the Socceroos and Santana is keen to pair him with another veteran, Sibusiso Zuma.
But McCarthy or no McCarthy, Santana declared ”war” on Nigeria. ”We have to fight and fight hard against Nigeria. It will be a war on Saturday.
”I respect Nigeria but do not fear them. They have shown us respect by bringing their best squad to play us and we will adopt a positive, attacking approach to the game.”
But even if Bafana win they will not be sure of making it to the next round as the result of the other group four match in Freetown between an improved Sierra Leone and Equatorial Guinea could decide Bafana’s fate. A win for the Leone Stars could end South Africa’s slim hopes of a second crack at reaching Angola.
But Santa was optimistic and confident his players could do the business against the star-studded Super Eagles. The way his players fought against Australia has given him plenty of optimism and he is looking for his players to continue against Nigeria where they left off against the Socceroos.
Meanwhile, Bafana media manager Sifiso Cele said that the controversy over the so called ”cabbage patch” pitch was closed.
Said Cele: ”The coach and players have closed this chapter. We realise that we cannot keep complaining. Santana rightly points out that it will be the same for both teams and we have to adapt. We will not be commenting further on the pitch as it takes away our focus for the game. It is crucial the players and technical staff concentrate on the job at hand, and that is to beat Nigeria.” — Sapa