Titus Mulama, a former Kenyan international, has expressed his support for South African football legend Benni McCarthy to take over as the head coach of the Harambee Stars. McCarthy, who has been linked to the position following the resignation of Engin Firat in December 2024, has attracted a range of reactions from the Kenyan football community. However, Mulama believes that McCarthy’s wealth of experience both as a player and a coach in African football makes him a suitable candidate for the role.
Mulama emphasized McCarthy’s deep understanding of African football, noting that the South African icon’s extensive career on the continent gives him an edge when it comes to relating to Kenyan players and understanding their football culture. According to Mulama, McCarthy’s background as both a player and a coach in African football would allow him to easily connect with the players and help them reach their full potential.
“McCarthy is an African and has played in Africa, so he understands the environment and culture of African football. This makes him well-placed to work with Kenyan players and understand what motivates them,” Mulama explained. He also highlighted McCarthy’s experience as an assistant coach at the highest level, which he believes would help him bring out the best performances from the players. This combination of on-field experience and coaching expertise is seen as an asset that could inspire and motivate the Harambee Stars squad.
McCarthy’s coaching career has been marked by notable achievements in South African football. He is highly respected in his home country for his time as the head coach of Cape Town City and AmaZulu. Under his leadership, Cape Town City won the 2018 MTN8 trophy, and McCarthy’s stint with AmaZulu was even more successful, as he guided them to a second-place finish in the 2020-21 season, their best-ever performance in the South African Premier League. Furthermore, he led AmaZulu to the group stages of the CAF Champions League, a significant accomplishment for the club.
In addition to his domestic coaching successes, McCarthy has gained valuable experience on the international stage. He served as an attacking coach at Manchester United from July 2022 to June 2024, working under Erik ten Hag. His time at one of the biggest clubs in the world provided him with exposure to top-level football, further developing his tactical knowledge and coaching skills.
As a player, McCarthy is South Africa’s all-time top scorer and holds the distinction of being the country’s only player to have won the UEFA Champions League, which he achieved with FC Porto in 2004. His illustrious playing career also saw him feature for several top clubs, including Ajax Amsterdam in the Netherlands, Celta Vigo in Spain, Blackburn Rovers and West Ham in the English Premier League, and Orlando Pirates in South Africa. McCarthy’s extensive playing career at the highest levels of European and African football gives him a unique perspective on the game, which he can pass on to the Harambee Stars.
Mulama’s endorsement of McCarthy for the Harambee Stars job highlights the potential benefits of appointing a coach with a deep understanding of African football, and who has proven his ability to succeed in various coaching environments. His experience, both on the pitch and in the dugout, could be exactly what the Kenyan national team needs to reach new heights on the continental stage.
