'Time for Bafana to let Benni go - for good'

So the enfant terrible, the Bad Boy Benni, is at it again. Benni McCarthy's view this week that he is unavailable for Bafana's World Cup-Afcon qualifier against Nigeria on Sunday has again sparked outcries from certain quarters with even one of his team-mates, Durban-born Delron Buckley saying he is "sick and tired" of the ongoing McCarthy controversies.

On Tuesday night on e.tv news McCarthy, holding his young daughter in his arms, said that he was not available because he wanted to spend more time with her which again gives rise to a volume of opinions.

We all know that modern day sportsmen and women earn a fortune and have hectic schedules, but for most of them it is a fine balance between their business and private lives and that making sacrifices is just part of what they have chosen to do.

In McCarthy's case spending time with his daughter is now taking precedence over turning out for his country in an important soccer match.

While some may say this is commendable and a wonderful example for a father to set, the cold truth is that Benni cannot have it both ways. He is either dedicated to Bafana (and Blackburn) or to his family. I cannot imagine Blackburn manager Mark Hughes giving Benni a Saturday off if it happened to be his daughter (or wife's) birthday.

In recent times I have noticed that team management are much more adaptable and willing to allow family time for their players.

Shaun Pollock missed some Protea games to be with his wife when she was giving birth as have a number of other sportsmen.

In the old days fathers used to be away from their small children for months on end as touring teams used to travel by boat. Coming back for a birth of a child or special occasion would have been impossible, except in an emergency such as a death in the family.

But now in the days of jet travel, private planes and chartered aircrafts, the top stars flit in and out of their private and sporting lives with David Beckham probably being the best example.

But back to Benni. This has been a long running saga with him and his relationship with Bafana can best be described as a love-hate affair.

His first brush with officialdom happened in 2002 after the World Cup when he claimed to have retired from international football, but returned to Bafana in 2004.

In 2006 he ditched Bafana at the Afcon in Egypt and later after failing to honour a call-up for a qualifier against Congo.

Last year he snubbed Bafana against Chad after demanding an apology from Safa.

Also last year former Bafana coach Carlos Alberto Parreira persuaded McCarthy to return. He arrived for an Afcon match against Zambia, but took a swipe at Safa. Parreira ended up by resting McCarthy when he announced his team for the 2008 Ghana Afcon.

McCarthy on Wednesday had a meeting with new Bafana coach Joel Santana and it was decided he would miss all of Bafana's four African Nations Cup qualifiers in June. However I am sure Santana, not to mention Safa, have told him in no uncertain manner that he has to make a choice.

With the World Cup two years away, his mind, dedication and passion have to be completely with the South African team.

Don't bet against him letting us down again.