Bafana ignore Benni McCarthy

JOHANNESBURG – Star striker Benni McCarthy was left out of a South Africa squad named yesterday for an African Nations Cup qualifier in Congo next weekend.

The leading scorer for English Premiership club Blackburn Rovers last season was ignored after snubbing 1994 Brazil World Cup-winning coach Carlos Alberto Parreira by refusing to turn up for another qualifier this month against Chad. McCarthy said he would not play again for 2010 World Cup hosts South Africa until a national football association official apologised for alleged criticism of the striker, whose last national team apperance was 17 months ago.Benni claims he was made the scapegoat by delegation leader Mohamed Mubarak after Bafana Bafana (The Boys) fared disastrously at the 2006 Nations Cup, losing to Guinea, Tunisia and Zambia in Egypt without scoring a goal.However, this has been dismissed as a smokescreen by some observers who say McCathy does not want to play at the 2008 tournament in Ghana.Nampa-AFPMcCarthy said he would not play again for 2010 World Cup hosts South Africa until a national football association official apologised for alleged criticism of the striker, whose last national team apperance was 17 months ago.Benni claims he was made the scapegoat by delegation leader Mohamed Mubarak after Bafana Bafana (The Boys) fared disastrously at the 2006 Nations Cup, losing to Guinea, Tunisia and Zambia in Egypt without scoring a goal.However, this has been dismissed as a smokescreen by some observers who say McCathy does not want to play at the 2008 tournament in Ghana.Nampa-AFP