I REMEMBER in 2009 when Bafana Bafana captain Aaron Mokoena said he played a full game with Benni McCarthy at Blackburn Rovers and McCarthy did not show any sign of injury.

I REMEMBER in 2009 when Bafana Bafana captain Aaron Mokoena said he played a full game with Benni McCarthy at Blackburn Rovers and McCarthy did not show any sign of injury.

Yet McCarthy called Bafana's doctor, Ephraim Nematswerani, and said he could barely walk. After the call, the doctor got hold of a scan of McCarthy's leg and there were no signs of any injury to the prima donna.

McCarthy also snubbed us during Joel Santana's tenure before our all-important Africa Cup of Nations clash with Nigeria in 2008. He said he wanted to be left out for personal reasons.

He also showed us the finger by pulling out of the Nelson Mandela Challenge in 2005 against Senegal, in which we lost 3-2.

At that time, our national coach was Stuart Baxter. He showed his anger by stating he only wanted players who were desperate to play in the Africa Nations Cup, which was forthcoming at that time.

Ironically, McCarthy was spotted by Ajax Amsterdam after being selected to represent South Africa at the African Youth Championships and the Fifa World Youth Championships in 1997.

Once McCarthy tasted the sweet salary of European football he started thinking he was Maradona and forgot his Cape Flats roots.

Now, at the age of 32, with a waist that is definitely not a size 32, McCarthy will rightfully miss a chance to put himself in the history books.

We cannot sacrifice boys who are willing to die on the pitch and who are in great form for an overweight, ill-disciplined player whose willingness to die on the pitch is questionable.

So, coach Carlos Parreira must be commended for having the "soccer balls" to choose players who will die on the pitch for their country.

Tebogo Moatshe Ditshego, Kagiso