Benni McCarthy insists that he will not abandon his dream of starring for South Africa when the FIFA World Cup is staged in his home country in 2010.
The Blackburn Rovers striker, who has scored 29 goals in 69 appearances for South Africa, was a shock omission from Carlos Alberto Parreira's squad for the recent CAF Africa Cup of Nations in Ghana, which ended with Bafana Bafana finishing bottom of their group.
McCarthy has had a chequered international career since breaking onto the scene eleven years ago and he only ended a self-imposed 19-month exile from the South Africa team by returning to the squad for the clash with Zambia last September.
The former Ajax and FC Porto hitman remains South Africa's most-internationally renowned player, however, and his absence at the FIFA World Cup would do little for the host nation's prospects.
McCarthy may yet return to international action when Parreira selects his squad for the 26 March friendly against Paraguay, but the Cape Town-born striker admits that he has no intention of missing out when the FIFA World Cup comes to town in 2010.
He said: "I'm still in good shape, so there's no chance that I'm giving up on going to the World Cup.
"I'm 30 years old now and I'm still going strong. In all my time, not one single player has come and got as close to where I've been with the national team.
"You've got to give young players a chance and that's what they did for the African Nations Cup, but I've been in the national team now since 1997 and in 1998 I became a regular. Ever since then, I have been the No1 striker for 10 years."
McCarthy claims that the dearth of attacking talent coming through for the national team is worrying and he insists that he is no mood to stand aside for those younger players that have yet to prove their worth.
He said: "It's a shame that, for such a great country with so many talented young players, not one of them has put my playing days with the national team in danger.
"But now I'm having to work extra hard to get back in there because the FIFA World Cup in 2010, in my home country, will be the last opportunity for me to play on the biggest stage.
"I'm still very confident in myself, though. I go back and I'm always going to be the number one, but if you go and play in all the tournaments, you're never going to give a chance to young players.
"Me not going to the African Cup of Nations opened the door for so many young players, but when 2010 comes around, then I still want to be the No1 striker."
Sunday, March 9, 2008
Former Arsenal and Juventus midfielder Liam Brady has agreed to work as an assistant to new Ireland manager Giovanni Trapattoni.
Brady, who worked under Trapattoni when he was playing at Juventus, has agreed to take the post on a two-year contract, the Football Association of Ireland announced.
Trapattoni was appointed last month as the successor to Steve Staunton, who stepped down after failing to lead Ireland to the finals of UEFA Euro 2008.
Ireland are due to play friendlies against Serbia and Colombia in May before beginning their 2010 FIFA World Cup™ qualifying campaign later this year in a group that includes world champions Italy
Brady, who worked under Trapattoni when he was playing at Juventus, has agreed to take the post on a two-year contract, the Football Association of Ireland announced.
Trapattoni was appointed last month as the successor to Steve Staunton, who stepped down after failing to lead Ireland to the finals of UEFA Euro 2008.
Ireland are due to play friendlies against Serbia and Colombia in May before beginning their 2010 FIFA World Cup™ qualifying campaign later this year in a group that includes world champions Italy
Johan Cruyff has pulled out of his much-publicised bid to revive former club Ajax, citing a difference of opinion between him and the new technical staff.
"This is a professional difference of opinion and not a personal conflict," 50-year-old Cruyff told the De Telegraaf daily.
He wanted a rigorous overhaul of the youth training program of Ajax but apparently the technical staff, headed by the new Ajax coach and fellow Dutch football great Marco van Basten, did not agree.
"To get the youth program on a level fitting for Ajax, drastic measures should be taken. I drew up a clear plan but the people who have to carry it out did not share my vision," he added.
Cruyff's resignation is a blow to many Ajax fans who hoped the two football legends Cruyff and Van Basten would put Ajax back on track.
The Amsterdam giants have been forced to play second fiddle to arch-rivals PSV Eindhoven in the last few years and have not won their domestic championship since 2004 and this season trail PSV by nine points.
They have also struggled to compete at the European level, their last trophy being the 1995 UEFA Champions League title.
"This is a professional difference of opinion and not a personal conflict," 50-year-old Cruyff told the De Telegraaf daily.
He wanted a rigorous overhaul of the youth training program of Ajax but apparently the technical staff, headed by the new Ajax coach and fellow Dutch football great Marco van Basten, did not agree.
"To get the youth program on a level fitting for Ajax, drastic measures should be taken. I drew up a clear plan but the people who have to carry it out did not share my vision," he added.
Cruyff's resignation is a blow to many Ajax fans who hoped the two football legends Cruyff and Van Basten would put Ajax back on track.
The Amsterdam giants have been forced to play second fiddle to arch-rivals PSV Eindhoven in the last few years and have not won their domestic championship since 2004 and this season trail PSV by nine points.
They have also struggled to compete at the European level, their last trophy being the 1995 UEFA Champions League title.
Inter Milan have found a suitable area for a new stadium of their own, club president Massimo Moratti said on Friday.
Talks about moving from the ageing San Siro, which the Serie A leaders share with AC Milan, have been going on for years. "There is a project and it is at an advanced stage. We have pinpointed an area to build it (the stadium)," Moratti told Gazzetta dello Sport's website.
Inter's owner said he would like the new stadium to be named after former player and president Giacinto Facchetti, who died in 2006.
The Italian champions are celebrating their centenary this week with events planned at Saturday's home match with Reggina and a special game involving former Inter players taking place on Sunday.
Inter were formed in March 1908 when a group broke away from Milan Cricket and Football Club, later to become AC Milan, because they wanted to open up a team to foreigners.
Unrealised dream Moratti has been reminiscing throughout the week, telling Sky television that Inter once nearly signed Pele from Santos and mentioning to Gazzetta his biggest regret was not buying Eric Cantona and that Ronaldinho was an "unrealised dream".
In 1998, then Inter striker Ronaldo told Moratti to buy Alessandro Del Piero. "Ronnie advised me to buy Del Piero. But obviously it wasn't possible, Juve would have never let him go," he said.
Moratti also lauded Barcelona's Lionel Messi and Liverpool's Steven Gerrard as well as telling reporters his decision to let Andrea Pirlo join rivals Milan was a "very serious error".
Former forward Roberto Baggio could one day become an Inter director, Moratti told Gazzetta.
He also hailed coach Roberto Mancini ahead of Tuesday's Champions League first knockout round second leg at home to Liverpool. "He is the best coach in the history of Inter together with Helenio Herrera. He will stay until he wants to," said Moratti.
"The crowd will be very important (against Liverpool). We must play with character but also stay calm." Inter trail 2-0 from the first leg.
Talks about moving from the ageing San Siro, which the Serie A leaders share with AC Milan, have been going on for years. "There is a project and it is at an advanced stage. We have pinpointed an area to build it (the stadium)," Moratti told Gazzetta dello Sport's website.
Inter's owner said he would like the new stadium to be named after former player and president Giacinto Facchetti, who died in 2006.
The Italian champions are celebrating their centenary this week with events planned at Saturday's home match with Reggina and a special game involving former Inter players taking place on Sunday.
Inter were formed in March 1908 when a group broke away from Milan Cricket and Football Club, later to become AC Milan, because they wanted to open up a team to foreigners.
Unrealised dream Moratti has been reminiscing throughout the week, telling Sky television that Inter once nearly signed Pele from Santos and mentioning to Gazzetta his biggest regret was not buying Eric Cantona and that Ronaldinho was an "unrealised dream".
In 1998, then Inter striker Ronaldo told Moratti to buy Alessandro Del Piero. "Ronnie advised me to buy Del Piero. But obviously it wasn't possible, Juve would have never let him go," he said.
Moratti also lauded Barcelona's Lionel Messi and Liverpool's Steven Gerrard as well as telling reporters his decision to let Andrea Pirlo join rivals Milan was a "very serious error".
Former forward Roberto Baggio could one day become an Inter director, Moratti told Gazzetta.
He also hailed coach Roberto Mancini ahead of Tuesday's Champions League first knockout round second leg at home to Liverpool. "He is the best coach in the history of Inter together with Helenio Herrera. He will stay until he wants to," said Moratti.
"The crowd will be very important (against Liverpool). We must play with character but also stay calm." Inter trail 2-0 from the first leg.
English second tier side Hull could try and persuade Nigerian international veteran Jay-Jay Okocha to stay with them for another season.
Okocha hinted he may bring the curtain down on his career in May, at the age of 34, but he can invoke a clause in his contract that allows him to continue playing for the Championship side for another campaign.
"That's Jay-Jay's decision but if I can persuade him otherwise, and if I feel it's right to, then I'll have that conversation with him," manager Phil Brown told the Hull Daily Mail. "The guy has had a fantastic career and if he does sign off, he'll sign off on a high. If he doesn't sign off, it'll be because he's on a high and he wants to play on for another year
Okocha hinted he may bring the curtain down on his career in May, at the age of 34, but he can invoke a clause in his contract that allows him to continue playing for the Championship side for another campaign.
"That's Jay-Jay's decision but if I can persuade him otherwise, and if I feel it's right to, then I'll have that conversation with him," manager Phil Brown told the Hull Daily Mail. "The guy has had a fantastic career and if he does sign off, he'll sign off on a high. If he doesn't sign off, it'll be because he's on a high and he wants to play on for another year
Inter Milan have found a suitable area for a new stadium of their own, club president Massimo Moratti said on Friday.
Talks about moving from the ageing San Siro, which the Serie A leaders share with AC Milan, have been going on for years. "There is a project and it is at an advanced stage. We have pinpointed an area to build it (the stadium)," Moratti told Gazzetta dello Sport's website.
Inter's owner said he would like the new stadium to be named after former player and president Giacinto Facchetti, who died in 2006.
The Italian champions are celebrating their centenary this week with events planned at Saturday's home match with Reggina and a special game involving former Inter players taking place on Sunday.
Inter were formed in March 1908 when a group broke away from Milan Cricket and Football Club, later to become AC Milan, because they wanted to open up a team to foreigners.
Unrealised dream Moratti has been reminiscing throughout the week, telling Sky television that Inter once nearly signed Pele from Santos and mentioning to Gazzetta his biggest regret was not buying Eric Cantona and that Ronaldinho was an "unrealised dream".
In 1998, then Inter striker Ronaldo told Moratti to buy Alessandro Del Piero. "Ronnie advised me to buy Del Piero. But obviously it wasn't possible, Juve would have never let him go," he said.
Moratti also lauded Barcelona's Lionel Messi and Liverpool's Steven Gerrard as well as telling reporters his decision to let Andrea Pirlo join rivals Milan was a "very serious error".
Former forward Roberto Baggio could one day become an Inter director, Moratti told Gazzetta.
He also hailed coach Roberto Mancini ahead of Tuesday's Champions League first knockout round second leg at home to Liverpool. "He is the best coach in the history of Inter together with Helenio Herrera. He will stay until he wants to," said Moratti.
"The crowd will be very important (against Liverpool). We must play with character but also stay calm." Inter trail 2-0 from the first leg.
Talks about moving from the ageing San Siro, which the Serie A leaders share with AC Milan, have been going on for years. "There is a project and it is at an advanced stage. We have pinpointed an area to build it (the stadium)," Moratti told Gazzetta dello Sport's website.
Inter's owner said he would like the new stadium to be named after former player and president Giacinto Facchetti, who died in 2006.
The Italian champions are celebrating their centenary this week with events planned at Saturday's home match with Reggina and a special game involving former Inter players taking place on Sunday.
Inter were formed in March 1908 when a group broke away from Milan Cricket and Football Club, later to become AC Milan, because they wanted to open up a team to foreigners.
Unrealised dream Moratti has been reminiscing throughout the week, telling Sky television that Inter once nearly signed Pele from Santos and mentioning to Gazzetta his biggest regret was not buying Eric Cantona and that Ronaldinho was an "unrealised dream".
In 1998, then Inter striker Ronaldo told Moratti to buy Alessandro Del Piero. "Ronnie advised me to buy Del Piero. But obviously it wasn't possible, Juve would have never let him go," he said.
Moratti also lauded Barcelona's Lionel Messi and Liverpool's Steven Gerrard as well as telling reporters his decision to let Andrea Pirlo join rivals Milan was a "very serious error".
Former forward Roberto Baggio could one day become an Inter director, Moratti told Gazzetta.
He also hailed coach Roberto Mancini ahead of Tuesday's Champions League first knockout round second leg at home to Liverpool. "He is the best coach in the history of Inter together with Helenio Herrera. He will stay until he wants to," said Moratti.
"The crowd will be very important (against Liverpool). We must play with character but also stay calm." Inter trail 2-0 from the first leg.
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