World Cup hosts SAfrica recall McCarthy

November 6, 2009

World Cup hosts South Africa recalled controversial striker Benni McCarthy Thursday for mid-November home friendlies against Japan and Jamaica.

The scorer of a record 31 Bafana Bafana (The Boys) goals was ignored for the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup in South Africa after shunning a call-up for warm-up games against Norway and Portugal.

McCarthy claimed he had a hamstring injury, but Blackburn Rovers medical staff said the 31-year-old who burst on to the international stage at the 1998 African Nations Cup was fit to play.

There was no place for Spain-based defender Nasief Morris in a 24-man squad chosen by coach Carlos Alberto Parreira, who replaced fellow Brazilian Joel Santana last month and is scheduled to hold his first media conference Friday.

Morris was dumped ahead of the Confederations Cup for indiscipline by Santana, sacked after South Africa suffered eight defeats in their last nine matches.

He shares with captain Aaron Mokoena the distinction of being the only South African footballers playing regularly in an elite European league and was widely expected to be recalled.

South Africa failed to score in away losses against Germany, Republic of Ireland, Norway and Iceland during the last two months, prompting calls from local coaches for McCarthy to be given yet another chance.

Although the outstanding goal predator since South Africa returned to international football in 1992 after three decades of apartheid-induced isolation, McCarthy has frequently ignored national team call-ups.

The Blackburn striker claims he is unfairly singled out as the Bafana ‘bad boy’ during cash-related disputes between the team and South African Football Association officials.

Anti-McCarthy officials and national team supporters accuse him of being an overweight “spoilt brat” wanting to wear national colours only when it suits him.

McCarthy has not impressed Blackburn manager Sam Allardyce this season and reports have linked him with a mid-season loan move to English Premiership strugglers Portsmouth.

The inclusion of midfielder Daine Klate from champions SuperSport United ends a long media campaign for the inclusion of one of the best crossers available to South Africa.

There were also places for three of the team that reached the second round of the World youth championship in Egypt last month – goalkeeper Darren Keet, midfielder Daylon Classen and striker Kermit Erasmus.

South Africa will play the friendlies at 2010 World Cup venues, hosting World Cup qualifiers Japan at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium on November 14 in Port Elizabeth and Jamaica at Free State Stadium in Bloemfontein three days later.

Squad

Goalkeepers: Rowen Fernandez (Arminia Bielefeld/GER), Moeneeb Josephs (Orlando Pirates), Darren Keet (Wits University)

Defenders: Morgan Gould and Bongani Khumalo (SuperSport Utd), Siboniso Gaxa (Mamelodi Sundowns), Tsepo Masilela (Maccabi Haifa/ISR), Aaron Mokoena (Portsmouth/ENG, capt), Anele Ngcongca (Genk/BEL), Siyabonga Sangweni (Golden Arrows), Lucas Thwala (Pirates)

Midfielders: Reneilwe Letsholonyane and Siphiwe Tshabalala (Kaizer Chiefs), Daylon Classen (Ajax Amsterdam/NED), Kagisho Dikgacoi (Fulham/ENG), Daine Klate (SuperSport), Teko Modise (Pirates), Macbeth Sibaya (Rubin Kazan/RUS), Elrio van Heerden (Blackburn/ENG)

Strikers: Mabhuti Khenyeza and Katlego Mphela (Sundowns), Kermit Erasmus (Excelsior Rotterdam/NED), Benni McCarthy (Blackburn/ENG), Bernard Parker (Twente/NED)

JOHANNESBURG (AFP)

Tags: 2009 fifa confederations cup, african nations cup, Amsterdam, association officials, bafana, Bay Stadium, Bernard Parker, Bloemfontein, captain Aaron Mokoena, carlos alberto, Carlos Alberto Parreira, Darren Keet, Egypt, english premiership, friendlies, fulham, GER, Germany, Iceland, indiscipline, international football, international stage, Joel Santana, Kermit Erasmus, last two months, Lucas Thwala, man squad, Morris, national colours, NED, nelson mandela, Norway, Orlando, Portsmouth, portugal, republic of ireland, ROTTERDAM, Sam, south african football, south african football association, Spain, spoilt brat, team supporters, three decades, warm up games

Can Santana cling on to South Africa job?

October 17, 2009

South Africa coach Joel Santana has been given two more games to show progress with his side or face being fired just six months before the country hosts the 2010 World Cup finals.

A growing clamour for the departure of the 60-year-old, who came into the job 18 months ago after Carlos Alberto Parreira was forced to quit because of his wife’s illness, has been given momentum by two lethargic performances in Norway and Iceland.

Bafana Bafana lost both games 1-0 and have now been defeated in eight of their last nine matches –- the only positive was a hastily-arranged match against Madagascar last month that could barely be called a proper international but which South Africa won 1-0 to help massage the stark statistics.

This year, South Africa have scored 10 goals in 16 internationals and remain toothless upfront.

Santana is now facing a cacophony of calls for the return of Benni McCarthy, the country’s most controversial sportsman. Without a proven goalscorer he is in demand again, although Santana refuses to pick what he feels is a disruptive influence on his group.

The recent election of South African Football Association president Kirsten Nematandani initially spelt doom for Santana. Nematandani’s campaign manifesto included a promise to get rid of the unpopular Brazilian but since taking office he has tempered his stance.

The first step towards his possible dismissal by the year-end is the appointment of a group of three ‘assessors’ who will decide whether Santana is making any progress or not.

The trio is made up of two former `Bafana coaches – Jomo Sono and Clive Barker – and Gavin Hunt, who has led SuperSport United to the last two South African Premier League titles.

The ‘assessors’ won’t be making any recommendations on Santana’s competency until after the next warm-up games at home to Japan on Nov. 14 and Jamaica three days later.

Santana has done himself no favours by trotting out the same old excuses every time the team loses. Among them is a reminder that Germany, too, struggled in their build up to the 2006 World Cup finals which they hosted.

“And look how well they then went on to do,” Santana tells reporters.

But few believe South Africa have any chance of getting anywhere near the knockout round next June, nevermind the semi-final.

PHOTO: South Africa coach Joel Santana reacts at the end of their international friendly soccer match against Serbia at the Super stadium in Pretoria August 12, 2009. REUTERS/Siphiwe Sibeko

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Tags: association president, bafana bafana, benni mccarthy, cacophony, carlos alberto, Carlos Alberto Parreira, clive barker, competency, disruptive influence, favours, Gavin Hunt, Germany, Iceland, internationals, Jamaica, Japan, Joel Santana, Madagascar, pretoria, santana, South Africa, south africa coach, south african football, south african football association, south african premier league, warm up games, world cup finals

Dutch dream of ruining England´s Twenty20 vision

June 5, 2009

LONDON (AFP) – Hosts England open the ICC World Twenty20 against outsiders the Netherlands at Lord’s on Friday in a match they dare not lose and the Dutch hope they might win.

In pace bowler Dirk Nannes, who plays at Lord’s for Middlesex, the Dutch have a left-arm quick who can swing the ball late.

Australia-born Nannes didn’t hit top form during the Netherlands’s recent warm-up games against Ireland and Scotland but if the seamer, who also plays for Indian Premier League side the Delhi Daredevils, is at his best then England need to watch out.

“Twenty20 is a funny game, all it takes is for a couple of us to fire and we will be challenging the big boys,” said Nannes.

All-rounder Ryan ten Doeschate is another key figure for the Dutch and this match could see him in action against at least two of his Essex team-mates in opening batsman Ravi Bopara and wicket-keeper James Foster, with the big-hitting Graham Napier also in England’s squad.

“It will be nice to actually test myself against them as I play a lot with them,” ten Doeschate said. Asked which side was the favourites for Friday’s game, he replied: “The Netherlands, definitely.

“No it’s hard to quantify. We are out for a one-off, special performance by two or three guys. Obviously, England are hot favourites.”

But Netherlands captain and wicket-keeper Jeroen Smits is convinced his side can start the tournament proper with an almighty bang. “I’m sure we can spring a surprise,” he said. “We have a quality 20-over team.

“They have some quality players but it comes down to who is best on the day and I think we can compete and I’m sure we can do a job on Friday.”

England have never won a major one-day tournament and, despite pioneering cricket’s shortest format at county level, are not among the favourites now.

They struggled to get past Scotland in a warm-up match before overwhelming the West Indies, a side they’ve beaten comfortably in Tests and one-dayers this season, in another practice match on Wednesday.

England head into this tournament without star all-rounder Andrew Flintoff (knee injury) but key batsman Kevin Pietersen looks to be recovering from an Achilles problem.

With the Ashes still to come this season, there is a suspicion that England’s sights remain fixed on Tests with regular captain Andrew Strauss stepping down temporarily because of a lack of Twenty20 form.

But all-rounder Paul Collingwood believes low expectations for England, who at the inaugural World Twenty20 in South Africa two years ago only managed a win over Zimbabwe, could work in the hosts’ favour.

“We’re very much dark horses and hopefully that will give the boys a bit more of a licence,” he said.

“The belief and the freedom to go out there and express yourself is important in this form of the game so hopefully that gives the boys a bit more of a licence and they won’t have as much pressure on them.”