Benni on a roll in UK, eyes 2010
30 January 2007
Benni McCarthy is revelling in his first English Premiership season, with 10 goals in 23 games making him the league's fifth-highest scorer. This won't have gone unnoticed by new South Africa coach Carlos Parreira. McCarthy, for his part, says he'd be "honoured" to make a return to international duty.
For many years, McCarthy fantasized about making a move to the English Premiership, to play his football in a league he loved. Somehow, despite plenty of interest over the years, that move never came about - until Blackburn Rovers finally pried him away from FC Porto in mid-2006.
When the transfer finally went through, McCarthy praised Rovers for not giving up on him, and since then he has been paying the club back for the faith it showed in him.
Goal scorer
Besides his 10 Premier League goals, he has he has scored twice in two FA Cup ties, and found the back of the net three times in six Uefa Cup outings,
helping Blackburn top Group E in the group stage of the competition.
His manager at Rovers is Mark Hughes, a long-time star for Manchester United and Wales. Fifa.com, the official website of world football's governing body, asked McCarthy in a recent interview whether he knew much about Hughes before his arrival at Ewood Park.
"Know about him?" McCarthy replied. "He used to be my hero! He was a player who I always wanted to be like. I have so much respect for him - and I love learning from him.
'I can't believe it'
"It's a little bit strange actually, because I have gone from being a big fan to standing next to him on the training pitch," McCarthy said. "I can't believe it. It's great to be able to rub shoulders with your heroes, because I was actually a Manchester United supporter as a boy.
"In South Africa I used to watch a lot of English football - everyone likes to see winning teams, and I think that's why I adopted Manchester United. I used to know everything about them, but now I'm Blackburn through and through.
"Seriously," McCarthy said, "I couldn't have come to a better club. It may be a smaller club than United, but it has a big heart. I'm feeling loved and very welcome."
No doubt about it, McCarthy is thrilled with his move to Blackburn, but how does Hughes feel about the striker? After a man-of-the-match winning performance to start the new year against Middlesbrough, Hughes said the striker was "getting stronger every time he plays".
Interest from other clubs
Much like McCarthy was once a fan of Hughes, so too is the manager a fan of the striker. He knows he has made a great signing, so much so that he has had to fend off rumours of an approach from powerhouse club Chelsea.
"Whenever I have good players and they have good seasons, people assume they want to leave and I take exception to that," Hughes said. In other words, the Bafana Bafana star is not for sale.
And speaking of Bafana Bafana, the World Cup in South Africa in 2010, and playing for Blackburn Rovers, what has McCarthy's approach been to the club-versus-country dilemma that has dogged his career?
Club versus country
In his interview with Fifa.com, McCarthy gave his take on the situation: "People know that I have had problems in the past, due to the club versus country situation. You always want to play for your country - it's a massive honour, but your club means a great deal to you.
"Quite often, South Africa's games have clashed with European club fixtures, which has put me in a very difficult position," McCarthy went on. "For example, the African Nations Cup takes place in January and February - at a crucial point in time for the leagues.
"Recently, I missed the games for South Africa because I wanted to establish myself at Blackburn, and also my wife was having a baby. So, I just want to have a little bit of time off.
"It's giving younger players a little bit more experience, so I hope it's benefiting all parties. In the future, if they still think I'm the best striker, then I'd be honoured to go back.
"It would also be great to play in the World Cup in my country."
World Cup excitement
McCarthy says the prospect of playing the World Cup on home soil is an exciting one. He reckons he is constantly monitoring what South Africa is doing in preparation for the event, both on and off the field.
South Africa, he says, wants to make a great impression, especially as it will be the first African country to host the event.
"I am sure it will offer them something different to what they've seen at the other World Cups," McCarthy commented. "It'll be a tremendous party!"
SouthAfrica.info reporter
|
