World Cup hosts SAfrica recall McCarthy

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)