Johannesburg - Controversial Blackburn Rovers striker Benni McCarthy will play for Bafana Bafana in two upcoming international friendlies against Japan and Jamaica next week.
This comes after the technical team announced its 24 -men squad for the upcoming friendly games scheduled to be played at the newly built Port Elizabeth stadium and the Free State Vodacom Park Stadium, respectively.
The friendly matches against Japan and Jamaica will mark the return of the head coach, Brazilian Carlos Alberto Parreira, who was present during the team announcement in Sandton today.
Parreira has received extensive feedback from his assistant coaches, Jairo Leal and Pitso Mosimane, since his reappointment and has given his input in the selection of the squad.
In selecting the squad, the technical team was careful not to tamper with the previous team - while giving opportunities to young players as they continue to build a solid national team for the 2010 Fifa World Cup.
"These players where selected with Parreira's vision and preferred style of play. Following the recent Fifa under 20 World Cup in Egypt, we added a different option to the list for the coach to get an opportunity to assess young players," Mosimane said.
Leal and Mosimane indicated that since there were just two matches left before the end of the year, it was important to have a mix of young and experienced players.
The two Bafana Bafana assistant coaches were confident about the national team's preparations for next year's 2010 FIFA World Cup.
The team will assemble on Sunday in the evening and will leave for PE on Tuesday after physical tests are conducted.
Parreira, who shied away from the media today, will interact with the media at a planned briefing on Friday in Johannesburg.
Parreira said he was happy to be back in the country .
The squad will be as follows:
Goalkeepers: Rowen Fernandez, Moeneeb Josephs, Darren Keet.
Defenders: Siboniso Gaxa , Bongani Khumalo, Morgan Gould , Tsepo Masilela, Aaron Mokoena , Anele Ngcongca , Lucas Thwala , Siyabonga Sangweni.
Midfielders: Daine Klate, Renilwe Letsholonyane, Daylon Claasen, MacBeth Sibaya), Teko Modise , Elrio Van Heerden, Siphiwe Tshabalala, Kagisho Dikgacoi.
Strikers: Benni McCarthy, Katlego Mphela, Kermit Erasmus, Bernard Parker and Mabhudi Khenyeza
Tickets for the two friendly games are available at computicket at R30 each.
