The galaxy of global footballing superstars like Messi, Kaka, Robinho, etcu00a0 is shining so brightly in South Africa right now that one almost forgets that before these superheroes arrived, the hosts had their own pin-ups. In fact, the world doesn't know much about the men who will fly the hosts' flag in the first African World Cup.

One of those stars, who some may be familiar with, has fallen. Benni McCarthy, South Africa's top goal-scorer was dropped from the 23-man squad. McCarthy made his name internationally at FC Porto, where he won the Champions League (2004). He scored twice to knock Manchester United out of the competition six years ago. He went on to play for Blackburn and West Ham. He is the only South African to have scored in two World Cups and was instrumental the team not finishing as the wooden spooners in their groups in both the 1998 and 2002 World Cups. So, with a record like this, why has he become stardust?

McCarthy piled on the kilos in recent years, earning nicknames like "Big Mac Benni." He often opted for club over country and also lost form. He was considered match unfit when arriving at the WC camp after just two starts for West Ham in the EPL and coach Carlos Alberto Parreira made the brave decision to drop him.

However, Parreira still has a few players with astronomical powers. The most well-known of them is Everton winger Steven Pienaar. The Jo'burg-born player has plyed his trade in Holland (Ajax) and Germany (Borussia Dormund) before moving to Merseyside. His is a rags-to-riches tale starting in the black townships of Jo'burg, where he literally dodged bullets (his childhood friend was killed by one) and culminating in being crowned Everton's 2010 player of the season. He is known for his speed on right or left win and for his creative ability to create and score goals. Expectation is heavy that if SA are to reach Round Two, Pienaar will be the man to take them there.

Other South Africans based in England are Fulham's central midfielder Kagisho Dikgacoi and SA skipper Aaron Mokoena, a defender at Portsmouth. Mokoena was awarded his 100th cap for SA earlier this week. He is known as "the axe" for his tough tackling and no nonsense attitude.

The South African squad is made up of 22 black players and just one white man ufffd Matthew Booth, who carries the hopes of much of the white minority and has won over the black majority with his pleasant demeanour. He is a true symbol of the new South Africa, having married a black woman. Fans can be heard shouting "boo" whenever he touches the ball but this is no negative chant. They are just by calling out his name.
The writer is based in Johannesburg.