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Article continues belowArticle continues belowArticle continues below<ul><li>McCarthy enjoyed a glittering career with Bafana</li><li>But there was a dent in that international career</li><li>His former teammate comments on that</li></ul><script type="application/json" data-placement="fcplayer-semantic">{"type":"fcplayer-semantic","data":{"embedCode":"//cdn.fcp.codes/embed-code-template/embed-code-template.js#SEMANTIC_5704afb8-c10b-4ba5-9cb4-d7fb6098ef90"}}</script>

Ex-Bafana Bafana captain Mokoena reveals why Benni McCarthy was snubbed from 2010 Fifa World Cup squad

McCarthy was surprisingly omitted from the squad for the 2010 Fifa World Cup hosted in South Africa.Despite the former striker nearing the end of his playing career then, he was one of the experienced Bafana players and was turning out for Premier League side, West Ham United.But Carlos Alberto Parreira could not budge and stuck to his guns when he decided to excuse McCarthy from his final squad.

WHAT HAPPENED?

“What he [Parreira] did first, he called myself and Benni in the room to tell him that,” said Mokoena as per<a href="https://www.idiskitimes.co.za/bafana-bafana/mokoena-reveals-why-parreira-snubbed-benni-for-2010-wc/#google_vignette" target="_blank"> iDiski Times.</a>“Not even actually, before then he gave Benni the programmes to help him actually to lose a bit of weight."And the last day that he had, maybe two days before he had to announce the squad, then he called me and Benni and he told Benni he won’t take him in the squad," he said.“And he even said that you’re the best striker in South Africa, but my principles are my principles."I believe that you’re overweight, to be part of the squad, so that’s how actually he told Benni," the former Bafana skipper concluded.“On the spot for me, I tried to convince Carlos but Carlos was a person of principles, what was a manager of principles, because in the meeting he even said that he worked with your Rivaldos, Romarios, and you could see that they were fit players."

WHAT MOKOENA SAID

Not being part of the 2010 World Cup squad remains one of McCarthy's biggest regrets during his playing days and <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-za/news/bafana-bafana-legend-mccarthy-reveals-why-parreira-snubbed-him-for-2010-world-cup/128ciachk8e4c15vuo0z7aaoh3" target="_blank">he felt Parreira was getting back at him for previously choosing his club over the national team.</a>In his absence, South Africa went on to be prematurely ejected from their own party, becoming the first World Cup hosts to fail to reach the knockouts.McCarthy, however, returned to the national team fold after the global tournament under Pitso Mosimane before hanging up his boots in 2013.

THE BIGGER PICTURE

McCarthy is now a forwards coach at Manchester United but his future at the club appears uncertain following Sir Jim Ratcliffe's acquisition of a stake in the team.He, however, feels he still has unfinished business with the national team and <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-za/lists/benni-mccarthy-makes-u-turn-on-coaching-bafana-bafana-ex-orlando-pirates-star-reveals-dream-to-test-himself-against-against-gerrard-alonso-co/bltc57f7be2a087720c" target="_blank">intends to one day coach Bafana Bafana.</a>

WHAT NEXT FOR MCCARTHY?

Ex-Bafana Bafana captain Mokoena reveals why Benni McCarthy was snubbed from 2010 Fifa World Cup squad | Goal.com

The former South Africa skipper details how he struggled to convince Carlos Alberto Parreira to change his decision on McCarthy. 

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