Benni McCarthy, the former South African football star, has reportedly agreed to take over as the head coach of Kenya’s national team, the Harambee Stars, following the resignation of Turkish coach Engin Firat in December. McCarthy, who is well-known for his success both as a player and a coach, is considered a strong candidate for the role due to his extensive experience in top-flight football.
However, former Kenyan international Elijah Onsika has raised concerns about the composition of McCarthy’s technical staff. Onsika has expressed his support for McCarthy’s appointment but insists that local coaches should be included in the backroom team. He emphasized that the technical bench should be balanced, with Kenyan coaches being part of the setup. Onsika’s suggestion aligns with the views of many Kenyan football stakeholders who believe that local tacticians should be given the opportunity to work alongside an experienced international coach like McCarthy.
Onsika pointed out that previous foreign coaches, such as Firat, included local assistants in their teams, which helped to foster a sense of collaboration and trust between foreign and local coaching staff. For instance, Firat’s staff included at least four coaches, including a goalkeeper trainer. Onsika believes that including Kenyan coaches would not only provide valuable learning opportunities for them but also boost their morale and contribute to the development of football in Kenya.
The inclusion of local coaches is seen as an essential step in ensuring the growth of Kenyan football, as it allows local talent to benefit from the expertise of international coaches while also maintaining a sense of local representation within the team. This approach has been successfully implemented in other countries and is viewed as an important factor in improving the overall quality of the national team.
While it remains unclear whether McCarthy would prefer to bring in his own backroom staff, as is often the case with many coaches, Onsika’s suggestion highlights the importance of finding a balance between bringing in international expertise and fostering local talent. This is a key issue that would likely have been discussed during McCarthy’s talks with Football Kenya Federation (FKF).
Onsika also urged FKF to act swiftly in finalizing McCarthy’s appointment, as the South African coach is in high demand due to his impressive coaching record. McCarthy is well-regarded for his work with top players, including Manchester United’s Marcus Rashford, who scored a career-high 30 goals during the 2022-2023 season under McCarthy’s guidance. Onsika believes that McCarthy’s experience working with high-caliber players like Rashford will be invaluable in helping to develop Kenyan players, particularly the likes of Michael Olunga, who could benefit from McCarthy’s expertise in striking.
McCarthy’s career as a player was equally successful, with notable stints at top clubs such as Ajax, Celta Vigo, and Manchester United, where he played alongside some of the best in the world. After retiring from playing, McCarthy transitioned into coaching, where he has had success with clubs like Cape Town City and AmaZulu FC. He led Cape Town City to the MTN8 trophy in 2018 and guided AmaZulu to a historic second-place finish in the South African Premier Division in 2021.
Given McCarthy’s proven track record both as a player and coach, many believe he could be the key to unlocking the potential of the Harambee Stars. His ability to develop strikers and work with top-level talent would be an asset to the Kenyan national team, and Onsika is confident that his appointment would help elevate Kenyan football to new heights. However, the inclusion of local coaches in the technical staff remains a crucial aspect of ensuring the success of McCarthy’s tenure as head coach.
