Bafana Bafana coach Carlos Alberto Parreira left South Africa’s all-time top international goalscorer Benni McCarthy out of his 23-man squad this month’s World Cup finals on home soil.

McCarthy’s past record of 31 goals in 79 internationals wasn’t enough to overcome his present lack of form and fitness.

Overweight when he joined the camp after an injury-ravaged EPL season at Blackburn and West Ham, McCarthy only featured in 22 minutes of Bafana’s unbeaten warm-up programme.

The 32-year-old striker was the highest-profile of the five omissions from Parreira’s provisional squad.

The Brazilian boss also caused a surprise with his selection of uncapped Maritzburg United goalkeeper Shuaib Walters ahead of Arminia Bielefeld custodian Rowen Fernandez.

Other players left out included full-back Bryce Moon from Greek side PAOK Salonika.

The squad includes 16 players from South Africa’s own Premier Soccer League, with four representatives from Mamelodi Sundowns, and three each from Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs.

2009/10 PSL champions Supersport United have only one representative, defender Bongani Khumalo.

Bafana stretched their unbeaten run in the tournament build-up to 11 matches with a 5-0 rout of lowly Guatemala, their biggest win since readmittance to Fifa in 1992. Captain Aaron Mokoena won his 100^th cap.