Benni McCarthy, the newly appointed coach of the Harambee Stars, has expressed genuine concern about his family’s well-being as he takes charge of the Kenyan national football team. The 47-year-old South African, who signed a two-year deal with the Kenyan Football Federation (FKF) to manage the national team, shared that his family is currently not comfortable living in the United Kingdom due to the harsh weather conditions.
Despite this, McCarthy has made it clear that he is not looking to leave Kenya anytime soon. The former Bafana Bafana striker intends to stay in the country to observe the FKF Premier League (FKFPL) matches, allowing him to assess potential players for the upcoming 2026 World Cup qualifiers against The Gambia and Gabon later this month.
His concerns about the weather in the UK are understandable, as McCarthy noted that his family is enduring tough conditions there. However, he emphasized his commitment to his new role and expressed a desire to remain in Kenya as long as possible. “At the moment, my family is in the UK, but they are suffering because of the weather. I don’t want to leave Kenya in a hurry. I will be here as much as possible to try and watch local matches and also visit players who play in Europe, so they don’t feel neglected. We will try to visit all the players, so that when they come to camp, they will arrive with smiles, and the results will be in our favor,” McCarthy told Flashscore.
The Harambee Stars are set to face The Gambia on March 17 before hosting Gabon a week later at the Nyayo Stadium. McCarthy’s immediate focus is on preparing the team for these crucial qualifiers. The coach has been in Kenya since last week, and although his official unveiling was initially scheduled for February 28, the FKF confirmed the new date of March 3. McCarthy shared that he has already started familiarizing himself with Kenya, driving around and exploring the country. “For the past few days, I have been driving around, going around Kenya, and I have never felt at home anywhere in my entire football career as I do in Kenya. Not because I am the new coach now, but I feel like I am Kenyan,” McCarthy said, highlighting his connection to the country.
McCarthy’s contract with the Harambee Stars runs through to the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), which will be co-hosted by Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania. Kenya began their qualification campaign for this tournament with a 2-1 defeat to Gabon but later recovered with a 5-0 victory over Seychelles, followed by a 1-1 draw against Burundi. Their most notable result came when they secured a vital 0-0 draw against African champions Ivory Coast.
Kenya is currently sitting fourth in Group F with five points, five points behind leaders Ivory Coast. Gabon is in second place with nine points, and Burundi holds third with seven points. Despite the challenges faced in the qualification campaign, McCarthy remains hopeful about Kenya’s chances of qualifying for the global tournament for the first time in the country’s history. He has not lost faith in the team and believes that with the right preparations and focus, anything is possible for the Harambee Stars.
As McCarthy settles into his role as head coach, his primary goal is to build a team that will not only compete in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers but also bring a sense of pride to the Kenyan football community. He is committed to ensuring that both local and European-based players feel included and valued, as this will be crucial to achieving the team’s long-term success. McCarthy’s leadership will be pivotal in guiding the Harambee Stars as they aim to reach new heights on the international stage.
