Who says Benni McCarthy is over-weight, undisciplined and at 32 ready for the soccer scrap heap? Well, most South Africans it would seem.

South Africa’s Benni McCarthy is keen to show new West Ham manager Avram Grant he is worth a place in the Premier League side’s attack when the new season starts next month.

New Zealand’s Winston Reid scored a goal in stoppage time to salvage a 1-1 draw against Slovakia in their Group F World Cup match against New Zealand at the Royal Bafokeng stadium in Rustenburg.

The world’s deadliest finishers will be out prospecting over the coming month in South Africa as they look to land the World Cup golden boot award.

South Africa’s all-time leading scorer Benni McCarthy was one of five players cut from the World Cup hosts’ squad as coach Carlos Alberto Parreira settled on his 23 players for the June 11-July tournament.

Bafana Bafana striker Benni McCarthy said he was working “really hard” to regain his fitness and confidence, adding he was desperate to make the World Cup squad of 23.

Bafana Bafana “bad boy” Benni McCarthy who was accused this week of snubbing the media, was defended by his bosses at the South African Football Association.

The coaches who will be battling it out here next month for soccer’s holy grail have named their squads, and yes, Benni McCarthy will lead Bafana Bafana’s striking force.

South Africa captain Graeme Smith was left to lament bowling and fielding errors after losing Saturday’s Twenty20 World Cup Super Eight game to England.

Bernard Hopkins won a unanimous decision against fellow American Roy Jones Jr. in Las Vegas, finally avenging a 1993 defeat in a long-delayed re-match.