‘Overweight’ Benni McCarthy Axed From South Africa World Cup Squad – What A Waste

Ollie Irish

1st, June 2010

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By Ollie Irish

Big Benni should have laid off the cakes

“He is overweight, with high body fat percentage and a lower physical state than the rest of the team.”

That was the expert opinion of South Africa fitness coach Francisco Gonzalez, when asked about striker Benni McCarthy a couple of weeks ago.

Well, McCarthy has now paid for his poor condition – he has been axed from South Africa’s final World Cup squad of 23. It’s a very sad day for South Africa’s record goal scorer, but he has no one but himself to blame.

It’s more than sad, actually – it’s a disgrace. What sort of professional would not want to be at his absolute physical best for a World Cup finals in his own country? Crazy. And at 32, it’s not like Benni will get another shot at a World Cup.

What a waste. What a waster.

The 23-man SA squad in full:

Itumeleng Khune (Kaizer Chiefs), Moeneeb Josephs (Orlando Pirates), Shuaib Walters (Maritzburg United); Siboniso Gaxa (Sundowns), Anele Ngcongca (Genk), Aaron Mokoena (Portsmouth), Matthew Booth (Sundowns), Bongani Khumalo (SuperSport United), Siyabonga Sangweni (Golden Arrows), Tsepo Masilela (Maccabi Haifa), Lucas Thwala (Orlando Pirates); Teko Modise (Orlando Pirates), Lance Davids (Ajax Cape Town), Reneilwe Letsholonyane (Kaizer Chiefs), MacBeth Sibaya (Rubin Kazan), Thanduyise Khuboni (Golden Arrows), Kagiso Dikgacoi (Fulham), Steven Pienaar (Everton), Siphiwe Tshabalala (Kaizer Chiefs); Surprise Moriri (Sundowns), Bernard Parker, Katlego Mphela (Sundowns), Siyabonga Nomvethe (Moroka Swallows).