MCCARTHY GETS SURPRISE CALL UP

South Africa named Benni McCarthy in a 19-man squad for next week’s African Nations Cup qualifier against Chad even though the Blackburn Roves striker has told officials he is unavailable for selection.
McCarthy has not played for South Africa for the last 16 months, saying he wanted to concentrate on his club career in England, where he moved from FC Porto last July.
Coach Carlos Alberto Parreira brought back Bradley Carnell of German second division champions Karlsruhe, who was suspended for the last qualifier in March, but will be without Borussia Dortmund’s Steven Pienaar, who is injured.
South Africa play Chad in their Group 11 qualifier in Durban on June 2.
Squad:
Goalkeepers: Rowen Fernandez (Kaizer Chiefs), Calvin Marlin (Mamelodi Sundowns) Defenders: Bradley Carnell (Karlsruhe, Germany), Ricardo Katza (SuperSport United), Vuyo Mere, Benson Mhlongo (both Mamelodi Sundowns), Aaron Mokoena (Blackburn Rovers, England), Nasief Morris (Panathinaikos, Greece), Cyril Nzama (Kaizer Chiefs)
Midfielders: Delron Buckley (FC Basle, Switzerland), Surprise Moriri, Godfrey Sapula (Mamelodi Sundowns), MacBeth Sibaya (Rubin Kazan, Portugal), Elrio van Heerden (Club Brugge, Belgium), Benedict Vilakazi (Orlando Pirates)
Strikers: Thembinkosi Fanteni (Ajax Cape Town), Benni McCarthy (Blackburn Rovers, England), Siyabonga Nomvete (AB Aalborg, Denmark), Sibusiso Zuma (Arminia Bielefeld, Germany).