Bafana Bafana legend Benni McCarthy has promised to build a strong Kenyan team that the East African country will be proud of after losing his first home match.
McCarthy took charge of the Harambee Stars for the second time, but the first game at home, when they faced Gabon in a 2026 World Cup qualifier in Nairobi on Sunday.
They, however, suffered a 2-1 defeat to leave their World Cup qualification hopes in tatters but McCarthy is looking at positives, saying he could not have done much in just a few days, but is confident of turning around their fortunes when he finally has a grip on things.
“Them [Gabon] as a team, they had more togetherness than what we had,” McCarthy said in his post-match press conference.
What has Benni promised Kenya?
“I've only been here a very short while and there's so much you can try and change, but you're never gonna get how you really want to be or where you want to be in only one week with the team, you know, so it was difficult and we, we are grateful for the support, the people of Kenya that came out to support.
“Wow, this was the most memorable experience I've experienced, even in my time playing as a player, playing in Europe.
“This was what Africa should be about. It was just beautiful, but unfortunately, we couldn't give the fans that joy to give them a win, something to celebrate.
“But what we can promise is we will improve, we will get better, and they will have a team that they can be very proud of. I think yesterday, as I said yesterday, we came for this kind of game, this kind of match.
Harambee Stars’ World Cup hopes in tatters
“We, we wanted to, to win. And then we said if you cannot win, we have to draw at least so,” added McCarthy, who was unveiled as Kenya coach on March 3.
McCarthy’s team are now nine points behind leaders Gabon, having managed six points from as many matches, and can find themselves seven points adrift of Ivory Coast if the African champions beat The Gambia on Monday.
However, focus is on building a strong team that will challenge at the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations which Kenya will co-host with Uganda and Tanzania.
