The Football Kenya Federation recently confirmed South Africa legend Benni McCarthy as the new Harambee Stars coach. He took over from Engin Firat who had stepped down after failing to help the country qualify for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations to be held in Morocco later this year.
Before his appointment, the 47-year-old was a free agent after parting ways with Manchester United where he was serving as the strikers' coach. The then-manager, Erik ten Hag, opted against extending his stay after the two-year contract expired.
Benni has been given the mandate to help Harambee Stars qualify for the 2026 Fifa World Cup. However, the primary target is to ensure the team has delivered in the Chan that will be co-hosted by Tanzania, Kenya, and Uganda.
Ahead of the game, former Orlando Pirates coach Roger De Sa has prepared the former South Africa striker mentally about the type of facility that awaits him.
‘Benni has to get around those challenges'
“To get into the national structures is a massive step for Benni because national teams are very special and I am very happy for Benni and that yet another South African is getting this opportunity,” De Sa told iDiski Times.
“So, Benni must not expect the Man United training fields or even the Orlando Pirates training field for that matter. He is obviously going to face challenges, and he’s got to be up for it and be ready to face the challenge. He must find the solutions and be ready to tolerate those and make the situation work for him.
“Sometimes you pick these players who come from a league in Qatar, for example, where they earn top money and train in top facilities, then they come to Kenya and the field is below par. He has to get around those challenges which are not always just football.”
Benni has to know his players
This is the first time Benni is coaching a national team, having initially worked for club football in Mzansi and abroad. De Sa has advised his country-mate on what to do, especially regarding players to do the national duty.
“The other challenge he is going to have to deal with is that it is different coaching a club and a national team. Your players are in different parts of the world and you have to monitor their progress because it is not just bringing them into camp for training and playing a match.
“You need to know where the players stand and how they are playing because sometimes you need to use him as a left-back, but at his club, they are using him somewhere else,” he concluded.
