Bafana Bafana legend Benni McCarthy has had his say on Kaizer Chiefs goalkeeper Brandon Petersen missing out on the final squad for the FIFA World Cup, as well as the exclusion of Gift Links.
South Africa’s final 26-man squad was announced last week, trimmed from the 36-man preliminary roster that had been named the week before.
Petersen, who was tipped by many to make the final cut, was left out. His snub sparked controversy, and McCarthy is among those who feel the Amakhosi shot-stopper deserved to be in the final squad.
“There’s a couple of names that I would have [selected],” said McCarthy on Sporty TV.
“If I was in the position, I think I would have gone a different route especially with the Brandon Petersen case.
“I think with the season that Kaizer Chiefs had, he’s really been phenomenal, he’s been really an outstanding performer.
“When you perform like that, throughout the season, every time you step in between those goals, he’s a different maker for his team, then yeah, you deserve to be on that plane. I really feel for him for missing out.”
Meanwhile, McCarthy also questioned the exclusion of Aarhus GF winger Links, who won the league title in Denmark during the recently concluded season.
“And then the exclusion of somebody that, I don’t know what’s the situation like there, Gift Links, you win the league in Denmark,” he added.
“That’s one of the toughest leagues, it’s one of the European leagues. And for the first time other than myself, that’s won a league in a European country, he’s gone and done it.
“Does it even come close to mentioning, maybe coach’s preference. But man at the end of the day, you put your pride and ego a little bit aside and reward people on merit.
“I feel that it was a hard one but other than that he has used the players he has selected throughout the campaign, so I understand the sense of loyalty to the players – who were sacrificing and being there for the national team, going into difficult places.
“And now all of a sudden because a few players have had excellent season, you’ve got to sacrifice players that have helped you get [to the World Cup]. Coach knows what he’s done and I’m no one to question that.”
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