Bafana Bafana could be without Benni McCarthy for World Cup

26th February

South Africa's already frail World Cup hopes took an alarming turn for the worse with the news that Benni McCarthy's knee is showing little sign of being ready for the big kick off against Mexico in Johannesburg on June 11.

McCarthy, who completed his controversial £2.5m move from Blackburn to West Ham days before the January transfer window closed, has yet to play 90 minutes for the Hammers.

McCarthy limped off during his debut at Burnley in a match we he had a glorious chance saved off the line in a heartbreaking 2-1 defeat on 10 February.

The former Porto marksman has been unavailable for selection ever since and an Upton Park source told Football365.co.za: "Benni's not looking good. That knee is a problem.

"(I) don't know how he got through the medical. Africa may be in trouble if they think he's going to be their major World Cup striker."

The injury is not believed to be related to the knee problem McCarthy suffered for Rovers against Fulham in November 2007 or any of the long-running problems which have ruled him out of so many internationals for Bafana Bafana in recent years.

But Carlos Alberto Parreira is insisting he will only pick a fully-fit McCarthy after his repeated spats with the Bafana technical team.

When McCarthy left Ewood Park after refusing to train during his final days at Blackburn, former boss Sam Ballard insisted: "Benni's not getting any younger. The legs are not quite as good but the talent is still there.

"When he came to Blackburn he scored 23 goals in his first year and hasn't quite replicated that since."

McCarthy's problems add to Parreira's woes - his side moved up from 85th to 81st in the FIFA rankings after friendly wins over Zimbabwe and Swaziland in Durban last month, but they remain the lowest ranked World Cup hosts in history.

sport24