South Africa axe star striker McCarthy for Confed Cup

AFP/File – South Africa dumped star striker Benni McCarthy, seen here in 2008 playing for Blackburn Rovers, from …

JOHANNESBURG (AFP) – South Africa dumped star striker Benni McCarthy from the FIFA Confederations Cup squad Thursday when a provisional 30-man list was released.
Record Bafana Bafana (The Boys) scorer McCarthy had been expected to get the nod from Brazil-born coach Joel Santana despite shunning recent friendlies against Norway and Portugal.
Blackburn Rovers striker McCarthy, scorer of 31 goals for South Africa, claimed he was injured despite being cleared to play by medical staff at the English Premiership strugglers.
Santana and various predecessors have treated McCarthy with kid gloves despite a controversial national team career since bursting into the limelight at the 1998 African Nations Cup.
The Brazilian insisted at a media conference here that he had chosen the best players available for the June 14-28 'festival of champions' and refused to answer questions about the omission of McCarthy.
"The list announced today is the culmination of a programme started by (previous coach) Carlos Alberto Parreira in 2007 together with assistants Pitso Mosimane and Jairo Leal," he said.
"When selecting the final 23 players we shall try and have two players in each position plus a third goalkeeper. I also want to assure those not in the squad that they can still be considered for the 2010 World Cup."
McCarthy becomes available and unavailable for the national squad with alarmingly frequency, although the failure of South Africa to produce world-class strikers sometimes leaves coaches with no option but to pick him.
"I'm happy the coach has finally made this decision regarding McCarthy," said Gordon Igeund, who has guided numerous big and small South African clubs to the Premiership title.
He told the Kickoff football magazine website: "This is a good lesson that there is no player bigger than the country and that everyone deserves the same treatment.
"I have reservations about some in the squad who do not deserve to be included as they have not been active for their clubs," said the coach considered the best in South Africa never to guide Bafana Bafana.
"Richard Henyekane should have been included based on his form. He is the leading Premiership scorer and has been one of the best players at Golden Arrows this season."
Henyekane scored as Arrows shocked league leaders SuperSport United 2-1 Wednesday and raised his goal haul to 18 this season, two more than Confederations Cup squad member Mabhuti Khenyeza of Ajax Cape Town.
Bafana Bafana open the two-week dress rehearsal for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa against Asian champions Iraq on June 14 at Ellis Park in Johannesburg and also face New Zealand and Spain in the first phase.
Domestic expectations are high with most football followers expecting at least a semi-finals place although South Africa were ranked 18th in Africa by world football governing body FIFA this week.
Squad
Goalkeepers: Brian Baloyi (Mamelodi Sundowns), Rowen Fernandez (Armenia Bielefeld/GER), Itumeleng Khune (Kaizer Chiefs), Moeneeb Josephs (Orlando Pirates)
Defenders: Matthew Booth and Siboniso Gaxa (Sundowns), Morgan Gould and Bongani Khumalo (SuperSport Utd), Tsepo Masilela (Maccabi Haifa/ISR), Aaron Mokoena (Blackburn Rovers/ENG, capt), Bryce Moon (Panathinaikos/GRE), Nasief Morris (Recreativo Heulva/ESP), Lucas Thwala (Pirates)
Midfielders: Innocent Mdledle, Benson Mhlongo and Teko Modise (Pirates), Lance Davids (SuperSport), Kagisho Dikgacoi (Golden Arrows), Elrio van Heerden (Club Brugge/BEL), Masilo Modubi (Westerlo/BEL), Surprise Moriri (Sundowns), Siyabonga Nkosi (Maccabi Netanya/ISR), Steven Pienaar (Everton/ENG), Macbeth Sibaya (Rubin Kazan/RUS), Siphiwe Tshabalala (Chiefs)
Strikers: Thembinkosi Fanteni (Maccabi Haifa/ISR), Mabhuti Khenyeza (Ajax Cape Town), Katlego Mashego (Pirates), Katlego Mphela (Sundowns), Bernard Parker (Red Star/SRB)
Note: Squad will be trimmed to 23 before June 14-28 tournament