No McCarthy for Bafana

BRAVE Warriors goalkeepers Athiel Mbaha, Esau Tjiuoro and Zico Paulus can count themselves lucky that they won’t have to stop shots from South Africa’s merciless striker Benni McCarthy, who will not be available for their international friendly match tomorrow.

The match will kick off at 19h00 at the Sam Nujoma Stadium in Katutura. It has been reported that the South African striker, with his defensive partner Aaron Mokoena, won’t make the trip to Namibia after they decided to concentrate on their club careers at Blackburn Rovers in the English Premiership.Sapa reports that McCarthy and Mokoena have decided to stay in England and prepare for Blackburn’s first game of the season against Portsmouth on Saturday.McCarthy, who recently joined Blackburn from Porto, was outstanding in their final warm-up game at the weekend, scoring twice in a 5-0 win over the New Zealand national side and has no intentions of missing Rovers’ lead-up to the start of the season.Despite the absence of McCarthy and Mokoena, Namibia will still engage a strong Bafana side.In McCarthy’s absence, Glen Salmon, who plays for Groningen in Holland, and Kaizer Chiefs hitman Gert Schalkwyk are expected to lead the Bafana attack.The Namibians have been in camp for over two weeks now and coach Ben Bamfuchile has gathered his finest players from the local premiership, who will be complemented by at least nine foreign-based players who are expected here today.The South African side, which will be led by SuperSport United gaffer Pitso Mosimane, have made it clear that they intend to demolish the Namibians, as they have included several top-class internationals.The most notable star for Bafana Bafana will be the diminutive midfielder Steven Pienaar, who now turns out for German Bundesliga side Borrusia Dortmund, while the presence of former Manchester United winger Quinton Fortune will also be felt.Fortune is now with Bolton Wanderers, while another dangerman will be Bradley Carnell, who plays for Karlsruhe in Germany.The South African side will be dominated by players from South African Premier Soccer League (PSL) side Mamelodi Sundowns, with the likes of goalkeeper Calvin Marlin, defenders Vuyo Mere, Benson Mhlongo and midfielders Suprise Moriri and Josta Dladla coming from that team.Meanwhile, a report from Rio de Janeiro yesterday indicated that the securing of Carlos Alberto Parreira as the new Bafana coach had “hit trouble”.Brazil’s O Globo Television channel said negotiations had stalled “over the exact nature of Parreira’s responsibilities in South Africa”.But Safa chief Raymond Hack dismissed the news from Rio.Hack is adamant Parreira is due in South Africa sometime within the next two weeks – to finalise his contract – but he admits there is still no finality on the exact day when the former Brazilian national coach will be arriving.It has been reported that the South African striker, with his defensive partner Aaron Mokoena, won’t make the trip to Namibia after they decided to concentrate on their club careers at Blackburn Rovers in the English Premiership.Sapa reports that McCarthy and Mokoena have decided to stay in England and prepare for Blackburn’s first game of the season against Portsmouth on Saturday.McCarthy, who recently joined Blackburn from Porto, was outstanding in their final warm-up game at the weekend, scoring twice in a 5-0 win over the New Zealand national side and has no intentions of missing Rovers’ lead-up to the start of the season.Despite the absence of McCarthy and Mokoena, Namibia will still engage a strong Bafana side.In McCarthy’s absence, Glen Salmon, who plays for Groningen in Holland, and Kaizer Chiefs hitman Gert Schalkwyk are expected to lead the Bafana attack.The Namibians have been in camp for over two weeks now and coach Ben Bamfuchile has gathered his finest players from the local premiership, who will be complemented by at least nine foreign-based players who are expected here today.The South African side, which will be led by SuperSport United gaffer Pitso Mosimane, have made it clear that they intend to demolish the Namibians, as they have included several top-class internationals.The most notable star for Bafana Bafana will be the diminutive midfielder Steven Pienaar, who now turns out for German Bundesliga side Borrusia Dortmund, while the presence of former Manchester United winger Quinton Fortune will also be felt.Fortune is now with Bolton Wanderers, while another dangerman will be Bradley Carnell, who plays for Karlsruhe in Germany.The South African side will be dominated by players from South African Premier Soccer League (PSL) side Mamelodi Sundowns, with the likes of goalkeeper Calvin Marlin, defenders Vuyo Mere, Benson Mhlongo and midfielders Suprise Moriri and Josta Dladla coming from that team.Meanwhile, a report from Rio de Janeiro yesterday indicated that the securing of Carlos Alberto Parreira as the new Bafana coach had “hit trouble”.Brazil’s O Globo Television channel said negotiations had stalled “over the exact nature of Parreira’s responsibilities in South Africa”.But Safa chief Raymond Hack dismissed the news from Rio.Hack is adamant Parreira is due in South Africa sometime within the next two weeks – to finalise his contract – but he admits there is still no finality on the exact day when the former Brazilian national coach will be arriving.