The Blackburn Rovers striker failed to report for duty with the rest of the squad on Sunday, citing personal reasons, which have yet to be explained.
But after arriving in the country on Monday, it seems the player is ready to meet with new coach Joel Santana and discuss his future with the national team.
A Safa press release on Tuesday read:
“Bafana Bafana Coach, Joel Natalino Santana, has had a telephone discussion with Benni McCarthy over a request pertaining to the current ongoing Camp to prepare for the first leg 2010 African Cup of Nations Qualifier against Nigeria in Abuja on Sunday 1 June 2008.
“As a consequence of this phone chat, the Coach and McCarthy will tomorrow have a face-to-face discussion at the Team Camp in Johannesburg. The nature of the player’s request remains confidential.”
McCarthy returned to the national fold in September last year at the special request of then Bafana coach Carlos Alberto Parriera, and just what effect the Brazilian’s self-inflicted departure from the national team will have on the striker’s already volatile relationship with Safa remains to be seen.
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