Tournament News
Benni: It was not to be
2010-06-01 12:40
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Johannesburg - Benni McCarthy said on Tuesday although he was disappointed with his exclusion from the final Bafana Bafana squad, he was still part of the team.
"All the players who made the national call-up should be proud, we did not fail, we just didn't make the final 23, we are still a part of the team, if not the squad," McCarthy said in a statement.
It was issued after Bafana coach Carlos Alberto Parreira announced his Soccer World Cup team.
"The final squad is a tough call for any coach to make and I am sure it was not made without heartache."
He thanked the team's technical staff for helping him with his physical shape after recovering from a niggling knee injury. His exclusion did not come as a surprise, he said.
"No one's place in the final squad is a given."
He said he pushed himself to the limits to make the cut, but unfortunately did not make it.
"I am proud to have been given the privilege to have been capped in the South African national squad, unfortunately this time it was not to be."
McCarthy was positive Bafana would make South Africans proud, especially given the support they had received from fans.
"If the carnival spirit of the Super 14 semi-final and final is a measure of the united support we are to expect for Bafana, then I see us excelling. My role now is to join in that support," he said.
Bafana SWC squad:
Goalkeepers:
Itumeleng Khune (Kaizer Chiefs), Moeneeb Josephs (Orlando Pirates), Shu-Aib Walters (Maritzburg United)
Defenders:
Matthew Booth (Mamelodi Sundowns), Lance Davids (Ajax Cape Town), Siboniso Gaxa (Mamelodi Sundowns), Bongani Khumalo (SuperSport United), Tsepo Masilela (Maccabi Haifa, Israel), Aaron Mokoena (Portsmouth, England), Anele Ngcongca (Genk, Belgium) Siyabonga Sangweni (Golden Arrows), Lucas Thwala (Orlando Pirates)
Midfielders:
Kagisho Dikgacoi (Fulham, England), Thanduyise Khuboni (Golden Arrows), Reneilwe Letsholonyane (Kaizer Chiefs), Teko Modise (Orlando Pirates), Steven Pienaar (Everton, England) MacBeth Sibaya (Rubin Kazan, Russia) Siphiwe Tshabalala (Kaizer Chiefs)
Forwards:
Surprise Moriri (Mamelodi Sundowns), Katlego Mphela (Mamelodi Sundowns), Siyabonga Nomvethe (Moroka Swallows), Bernard Parker (FC Twente, Netherlands)