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South Africa's biggest soccer star, Benni McCarthy, will play no role as the country takes on Norway on Saturday, and yet most of the talk ahead of the game in Rustenburg was around him.
McCarthy excused himself from the match, citing an unconfirmed injury. This is an old trick by the temperamental striker, so this latest no-show by him is simply not news anymore.
The truth is that Benni does not want to be bothered by the grind of international football anymore – the travelling, training camps and marketing duties that go with being a senior member of the national team. All he wants is to be left alone to focus on his club career in England, and choose a few Bafana Bafana games to suit his plans as he looks ahead to the 2010 Soccer World Cup.
Of course no one in the Bafana team is guaranteed a place in the World Cup squad, but Benni has picked himself and cannot be concerned by travelling half-way across the world to meet Norway in Rustenburg. He’s just bigger than that, and does not need anyone, including the SA Football Association (SAFA) and national coach Joel Santana, to affirm him. McCarthy has been with Bafana for 12 years, and he is the team’s top scorer.
Benni’s absence effectively means he will also play no part when SA travel to Switzerland to meet Portugal on Tuesday. Portugal will meet Bafana after their Saturday evening World Cup qualifier against Sweden, so they will still be razor-sharp. This is not the hassle the sluggish McCarthy wants in the twilight years of his career, chasing after speedy and tricky Portuguese stars or trying to tackle rock-solid Norwegian defenders.
Singular method of attacking
In all fairness, we should be glad with the opportunity that Benni has given us; namely to see how the national team shapes up without him against big opposition. This is something everyone has been calling for, a Bafana team that can stand and deliver anytime and anywhere. It is also an opportunity for Santana to try out new ideas, especially in attack.
So far Santana has been boring, depending on a singular method of attacking from the midfield. This tactic has Benni out of breath pretty early on as he is forced to run to fetch the ball or defend. How about placing a striker in the box – a target man – and plan the offensive approach using the wings, just for a change, hey Joel? As a tactician, you need plan B, and even D – just in case Norway is different from Chile.
And if it is proven that SA still need McCarthy, then leave the man alone. Let him work according to his schedule, as he mentally prepares himself for the World Cup – and the Confederations Cup in June, if he is interested. But if the authorities are as gatvol with the man’s antics as the fans are, then just organise a farewell match and let him go.
It’s not Benni’s fault that in the 11 years since he set the stage alight at the 1998 Africa Cup of Nations in Burkina Faso, SA Soccer have failed to produce another striker with the same international qualities.
Not a soccer superpower
Norway are here and we are busy discussing McCarthy... I can imagine him giggling his signature phrase “you make me nervous”, from Bafana’s publicity song “Shibobo” (by TKZ featuring Benni) ahead of the 1998 World Cup in France. Ja, those were the days. But Norway are here now, for the annual Nelson Mandela Challenge match at Royal Bafokeng stadium. The game marks the official re-opening of the venue, after renovations to prepare it to host both the Confed Cup and World Cup.
The Scandinavians are not a soccer superpower but have the experience to give Bafana a good test. Our boys should not read much into the fact that the visitors, who are ranked 45th by FIFA, never won a match in 2008. Things are changing fast as Norway rebuild under their celebrated coach of the 1990s, Egil Olsen. He was in charge when Norway qualified for the 1994 and 1998 World Cup tournaments. Norway beat Germany 1-0 in Olsen’s first match in charge, and they achieved this feat playing away. That friendly match in February also happens to be Norway’s last international.
To Bafana I say use your soccer brains and speed to unlock the ice-trap the Norwegian defence is famous for. Captain Brede Hangeland of Fulham will be in charge of the Viking defence, but at the same time Bafana must watch out for impact players like John Arse Riise of AS Roma, Morten Gamst Pedersen (Blackburn) and new kid on the block, Mohammed Abdellaoue.
The 15h00 kick-off is perfect as the expected 31 degree Rustenburg heat on Saturday should help melt Norway and their defence away. This is one encounter Bafana must win.
Tumo writes exclusively for Sport24.
Disclaimer: Sport24 encourages freedom of speech and the expression of diverse views. The views of columnists published on Sport24 are therefore their own and do not necessarily represent the views of Sport24.
South Africa's biggest soccer star, Benni McCarthy, will play no role as the country takes on Norway on Saturday, and yet most of the talk ahead of the game in Rustenburg was around him.
McCarthy excused himself from the match, citing an unconfirmed injury. This is an old trick by the temperamental striker, so this latest no-show by him is simply not news anymore.
The truth is that Benni does not want to be bothered by the grind of international football anymore – the travelling, training camps and marketing duties that go with being a senior member of the national team. All he wants is to be left alone to focus on his club career in England, and choose a few Bafana Bafana games to suit his plans as he looks ahead to the 2010 Soccer World Cup.
Of course no one in the Bafana team is guaranteed a place in the World Cup squad, but Benni has picked himself and cannot be concerned by travelling half-way across the world to meet Norway in Rustenburg. He’s just bigger than that, and does not need anyone, including the SA Football Association (SAFA) and national coach Joel Santana, to affirm him. McCarthy has been with Bafana for 12 years, and he is the team’s top scorer.
Benni’s absence effectively means he will also play no part when SA travel to Switzerland to meet Portugal on Tuesday. Portugal will meet Bafana after their Saturday evening World Cup qualifier against Sweden, so they will still be razor-sharp. This is not the hassle the sluggish McCarthy wants in the twilight years of his career, chasing after speedy and tricky Portuguese stars or trying to tackle rock-solid Norwegian defenders.
Singular method of attacking
In all fairness, we should be glad with the opportunity that Benni has given us; namely to see how the national team shapes up without him against big opposition. This is something everyone has been calling for, a Bafana team that can stand and deliver anytime and anywhere. It is also an opportunity for Santana to try out new ideas, especially in attack.
So far Santana has been boring, depending on a singular method of attacking from the midfield. This tactic has Benni out of breath pretty early on as he is forced to run to fetch the ball or defend. How about placing a striker in the box – a target man – and plan the offensive approach using the wings, just for a change, hey Joel? As a tactician, you need plan B, and even D – just in case Norway is different from Chile.
And if it is proven that SA still need McCarthy, then leave the man alone. Let him work according to his schedule, as he mentally prepares himself for the World Cup – and the Confederations Cup in June, if he is interested. But if the authorities are as gatvol with the man’s antics as the fans are, then just organise a farewell match and let him go.
It’s not Benni’s fault that in the 11 years since he set the stage alight at the 1998 Africa Cup of Nations in Burkina Faso, SA Soccer have failed to produce another striker with the same international qualities.
Not a soccer superpower
Norway are here and we are busy discussing McCarthy... I can imagine him giggling his signature phrase “you make me nervous”, from Bafana’s publicity song “Shibobo” (by TKZ featuring Benni) ahead of the 1998 World Cup in France. Ja, those were the days. But Norway are here now, for the annual Nelson Mandela Challenge match at Royal Bafokeng stadium. The game marks the official re-opening of the venue, after renovations to prepare it to host both the Confed Cup and World Cup.
The Scandinavians are not a soccer superpower but have the experience to give Bafana a good test. Our boys should not read much into the fact that the visitors, who are ranked 45th by FIFA, never won a match in 2008. Things are changing fast as Norway rebuild under their celebrated coach of the 1990s, Egil Olsen. He was in charge when Norway qualified for the 1994 and 1998 World Cup tournaments. Norway beat Germany 1-0 in Olsen’s first match in charge, and they achieved this feat playing away. That friendly match in February also happens to be Norway’s last international.
To Bafana I say use your soccer brains and speed to unlock the ice-trap the Norwegian defence is famous for. Captain Brede Hangeland of Fulham will be in charge of the Viking defence, but at the same time Bafana must watch out for impact players like John Arse Riise of AS Roma, Morten Gamst Pedersen (Blackburn) and new kid on the block, Mohammed Abdellaoue.
The 15h00 kick-off is perfect as the expected 31 degree Rustenburg heat on Saturday should help melt Norway and their defence away. This is one encounter Bafana must win.
Tumo writes exclusively for Sport24.
Disclaimer: Sport24 encourages freedom of speech and the expression of diverse views. The views of columnists published on Sport24 are therefore their own and do not necessarily represent the views of Sport24.
