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Bafana: We need Benni
04/06/2007 14:35 - (SA)
Johannesburg - "We definitely need Benni."
That is the opinion of two of Bafana Bafana's players following South Africa's 4-0 defeat of Chad in their African Cup of Nations qualifier in Durban on Saturday.
The win and the ease with which it was accomplished was no surprise though, as Bafana beat Chad 3-0 away a few months ago amid delirious fans, a bumpy pitch and the sweltering Saharan desert heat.
Chad were treated to the cool weather of Durban and an even surface conducive to playing good football.
The fans booed the visitors loudly but were much more respectful than the Chadian crowd who threw stones at the referee's assistants.
They got a good hiding and actually deserved to get six of the best but Bafana players seemed to enjoy pushing the ball around more than penetrating their goal.
Had McCarthy been there, would the result have been different?
No one can say, but after the victory some critics might say Benni's presence wasn't needed, accusing him of being arrogant and setting a bad example for other players and those who look up to him.
Winger Delron Buckley disagreed. "Benni is the best striker we have," he said.
"Look at what he has done in England for Blackburn. What more do we need to see and hear to know that he is the best."
Scoring 18 goals in his first season in England is no mean feat and puts him above acclaimed strikers such as Wayne Rooney and Andriy Shevchenko.
McCarthy refused to play against Chad in this record-breaking performance because, he said on national radio, that only an apology from Safa would encourage a return to the national team.
At the 2006 African Cup tournament McCarthy was singled out as a troublemaker and was chastised by Safa for his apparent actions in demanding more money.
The Blackburn Rovers striker is correct in demanding an apology as it is not the first time he had experienced trouble with the soccer authorities.
Nasief Morris, who scored his first Bafana goal against Chad, shared Buckley's sentiments.
"With all due respect to other players, Benni is the best striker we have. We need him as a player of his calibre adds quality to a team, irrespective of how good they are already.
Bafana played with a verve that has not been seen for many moons, but this was against a team ranked 133 in the world.
Therefore, it's not a game that can be mentioned alongside the likes of beating Ghana and Tunisia in the 1996 African Cup competition and should be forgotten, quickly.
The victory certainly made SA's passage to Ghana next year realistic as they lead the group with 10 points. And should Safa manage to clear issues with McCarthy, who knows what could beckon next.
Surely coach Carlos Alberto Parreira's team need him, despite snubbing Bafana again and demanding apologies. His return, however, will have to be louder than his fiery demands.
Should that happen and taking his track record into consideration, Benni should be back in the 18m-area soon, representing the country that made him and excite the fans.
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