Benni McCarthy (Gallo)

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Johannesburg - Bafana Bafana coach Carlos Alberto Parreira may have a tough decision ahead of him as star striker Benni McCarthy struggles to prove he is fit enough to make the final squad of 23 for the Soccer World Cup, which starts in less than four weeks.

Bafana's forthright Brazilian physical trainer, Francisco Gonzalez, declared in an interview with Rio de Janeiro newspaper O Globo over the weekend that the controversial McCarthy was still "too fat" in spite of his inclusion in a 29-man provisional World Cup squad.

McCarthy, who has not played a single complete first-team match since joining West Ham United from Blackburn Rovers more than three-and-a-half months ago, will seemingly have to improve his physical condition dramatically in order to gain a valid place in Parreira's finalised 23-player World Cup squad - which is due to be announced in two weeks.

"We will offer him all the support we can to get him into suitable shape," said Gonzalez, "but ultimately it will be up to him to make a supreme effort because currently his body fat is too high.

"His physical state is inferior to the other players," added Gonzalez, "and that is not good.

"Will he be fit enough to be chosen in two weeks time? Only the coach can give you the answer."

But Gonzalez did not mince his words. "To play in a World Cup you have to be in physically top condition," he said. "Benni McCarthy at this time is not in that condition."

"He has to help us help him," added the Bafana trainer. "We are only going to launch his preparation. From then on it will be up to him."

And emphasising the task that lies ahead for Bafana's battling, all-time top scorer is the fact that his match time in the last 15 weeks, in which he was initially hampered by injuries, amounts to two matches in which he was in West Ham's starting line-up - but did not finish the regulation 90 minute - and three others in which he played largely insignificant roles as a late substitute.