THEY say the camera does not lie but it’s always reassuring to confirm certain matters with the naked eye.

When Benni McCarthy appears on television he gives the unwanted impression of carrying too much weight for an international footballer.

Those who saw 32-year-old McCarthy in the flesh when he played for Bafana against Japan at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium last week had their worst suspicions confirmed.

As McCarthy huffed and puffed in his efforts to break down the Japanese defence it looked as though the Bafana forward was wearing a shirt about two sizes too small.

For those who missed the match take a look at the picture with this column which highlights Benni’s tummy.

It brought back memories of English cricket commentators comparing star South African batsman Jacques Kallis to the bulky “Michelin Man” on a tour to England.

Since then cricket fans will confirm Kallis has slimmed down dramatically and has ended any talk of being a “roly-poly”.

If McCarthy is to fulfil his dream of World Cup glory he needs to follow Kallis’s example and start shedding those extra kilograms.

It was not surprising that after the lacklustre draw against Japan Bafana coach Carlos Parreira urged McCarthy to leave English Premiership club Blackburn Rovers.

The Bafana striker is no longer a regular starter in the Blackburn side and that is a major concern for Parreira.

There can be no mistaking that Parreira has earmarked McCarthy as one of the pillars around which he will construct his World Cup starting line-up.

Portsmouth, Ajax and FC Porto have all been linked with McCarthy, who has expressed concerns that a lack of action will cost him dearly ahead of the World Cup.

All eyes will be on McCarthy when the January transfer window opens in England.

“If he wants my advice I think he should look for a club where he can play regularly,” Parreira said after the Japan match.

Former Blackburn coach Paul Ince famously said MCarthy was overweight and while recognising his talent, refused to play him until he raised his fitness level.

During the English off-season, Blackburn have sent McCarthy to a health farm in order to streamline his weight and get him into better shape.

When McCarthy was eventually substituted against Japan he received a surprisingly warm reception from the Nelson Mandela Bay crowd who could have been forgiven for venting their frustration for a lack of goals on him,

Parreira also made a point of shaking McCarthy’s hand as he made his way past him towards the bench.

The Bafana coach has admitted that most of his players who belong to European clubs do not play regularly for their teams and that means they are not match-fit.

It’s not surprising that Parreira has made match fitness his top priority ahead of the big kick-off.

If the Blackburn striker can shed the image of a man who constantly looks like he’s wearing a shirt two sizes too small, Bafana could finally be on the right track.