Chivas USA defender Shavar Thomas has benefited from his team's elimination from the US Major League Soccer championship with a national recall.

The 26-year-old defender will travel today with the Reggae Boyz to South Africa for a friendly international against that country in Johannesburg on Tuesday, November 17.

Thomas joins his MLS counter-parts Omar Cummings (Colorado Rapids) and Dane Richards (Red Bulls) to be included in the party.

The exciting Jermaine Johnson (Sheffield Wednesday), Jamal Campbell-Ryce (Burnley) and Jason Morrison (Ferencvaros) will travel from Europe to meet the group.

Midfielder Rodolph Austin heads a list of Europe-based players who were already in the island preparing for the engagement. The others include Adrian Reid, Eric Vernan and Demar Phillips.

The 20-man squad is a good blend of local-based and overseas players with goalkeepers Shawn Sawyers and Dwayne Miller, defenders Jermaine Taylor and Dicoy Williams, midfielders Richard Edwards and Lovell Palmer, and attacking players Navian Boyd, Keammar Daley, Brian Bayliss and Devon Hodges making up the local contingent.

Meanwhile, according to report posted yesterday on soccer website Goal.com, Blackburn Rovers star Benni McCarthy will make a return to the South African national squad, along with Under-20 stars Darren Keet, Daylon Claasen and Kermit Erasmus.

The South Africans will play Japan on Saturday before tackling the Reggae Boyz at Vodacom Park in Bloemfontein on Tuesday.

Looking ahead to the clashes, McCarthy, South Africa's leading all-time striker, said: "I want to start afresh and help Bafana do well in the World Cup.

"I have watched every match this year. All that was lacking was experience, somebody like me to stick the ball in the back of the net," McCarthy told a gathering of press members at team training session yesterday at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, where they will play Japan.

"I need only one touch to score and I will show the country I am still the best at what I do," he stated. According to the report, Everton midfielder Steven Pienaar was not considered for selection as he continues to work his way back to full fitness following an injury.

SQUADS:

Jamaica: Dwayne Miller, Dicoy Williams, Jermaine Taylor, Keammar Daley, Richard Edwards, Brian Bayliss, Lovell Palmer, Devon Hodges, Adrian Reid, Shawn Sawyers, Navian Boyd, Eric Vernan, Rodolph Austin, Demar Phillips, Omar Cummings, Dane Richards, Jamal Campbell-Ryce, Shavar Thomas, Jermaine Johnson, Jason Morrison.

Team officials are: Garfield Sinclair (head of delegation), Theodore Whitmore (head coach), Bradley Stewart (assistant coach), Warren Barrett (goalkeeper coach), Howard Bell (team manager), Juan Pablo Camargo (masseur), Dr Mark Sanderson (team doctor), Norman Stone (equipment manager), Nodley Wright (press officer).

South Africa: Goalkeepers: Rowen Fernandez (Armenia Bielefeld, Germany), Darren Keet (Bidvest Wits), Moeneeb Josephs (Orlando Pirates). Defenders: Siboniso Gaxa (Mamelodi Sundowns), Morgan Gould (SuperSport United), Tsepo Masilela (Maccabi Haifa, Israel), Aaron Mokoena (Portsmouth, England), Bongani Khumalo (SuperSport United), Siyabonga Sangweni (Golden Arrows), Lucas Thwala (Orlando Pirates). Midfielders: Anele Ngongca (KRC Genk, Belgium), Daylon Claasen (Ajax Amsterdam, Netherlands), Reneilwe Letsholonyane (Kaizer Chiefs), Kagisho Dikgacoi (Fulham, England), Teko Modise (Orlando Pirates), Macbeth Sibaya (Rubin Kazan, Russia), Siphiwe Tshabalala (Kaizer Chiefs), Elrio van Heerden (Blackburn Rovers, England), Daine Klate (SuperSport United). Strikers: Bernard Parker (FC Twente, Holland), Katlego Mphela (Mamelodi Sundowns), Mabhuti Khenyeza (Mamelodi Sundowns), Benni McCarthy, (Blackburn Rovers, England), Kermit Erasmus, (Feyenoord, Netherlands).