Table of Contents
- Harambee Stars fans are reeling in the aftermath of a tough tongue-lashing
- The South African said that his work in transforming the team is harder
- He feels that it’s premature to pass judgment on his skills as a football coach barely a year with the team
Harambee Stars fans are reeling in the aftermath of a tough tongue-lashing by the team’s national coach Benni McCarthy.
The South African said that his work in transforming the team is harder because fans are impatient.
He said that with this character, it becomes difficult to run a team that was in tatters before he arrived in Nairobi in March.
He feels that it’s premature to pass judgment on his skills as a football coach barely a year with the team.
McCarthy took over from Turkish coach Engin Firat, who cut ties with the Stars in December 2024. Firat left the team on its knees.
Players were demotivated, and so was Firat, who expressed dissatisfaction working with the Kenyan team.
Just recently, Football Kenya Federation (FKF) President Hussein Mohammed revealed that Harambee Stars owes Firat Ksh80 million in unpaid dues for his service as coach.
Why McCarthy Has an Issue with Harambee Stars Fans
The coach said that together with his players, they are under intense pressure from Harambee Stars fans. Their impatience is affecting the team dynamics and morale.
A 3-3 draw in Harambee Stars vs Gambia match on Thursday, March 20 marks very critical steps for Kenyan Football and coach Benni McCarthy. Photo/iDsiski Times
He also called out the media for amplifying this impatience, while it has only been a few months into the job.
McCarthy hasn’t had it easy managing fan expectations, especially after three consecutive losses.
Kenyan football fans had a lot of hope in him that he would take the team to the 2026 FIFA World Cu,p which remains a dream for now.
His tenure welcomed him with a World Cup Qualifier match against The Gambia and later Gabon, where Kenya lost.
Now, the gaffer is in the eye of a storm as he bears the weight of transforming Harambee Stars into a continental competitor.
On Saturday, he lost a friendly match against Chad played at Morocco’s Marrakech Stadium.
This string of losses has sparked a wave of impatience among Harambee Stars fans.
In a recent commentary, he called out these fans, saying that they fail to understand that ‘there is no magic he can pull’ with the team in three months.
McCarthy, who served as an assistant coach for Manchester United under Erik ten Hag, pointed out that over-expectation by Kenyans was doing more harm than good for the team.
He wants football fans to understand that building a solid team that will win continental football tournaments is a painstaking process that requires patience.
While insisting that he ‘has no magic wand’, McCarthy maintained that he is offering the best he can under the current circumstances.
Building a Solid Squad for Harambee Stars
Excited fans filled Nyayo National Stadium to cheer Harambee Stars against Gabon. FKF is
keen on improving matchday experience for all football fans Photo/Hussein Mohammed
The South African coach is learning the strengths, potential and weaknesses of each player to help him build a formidable squad based on their skills and deliverables.
Another thing he is working on is a mindset change among his players and building their confidence afresh.
That’s why he is keen for the squad to play international friendlies, because it gives a better outlook than when they play local matches.
With the Chan draw, he noted that his efforts in squad formation were paying off handsomely because every player has had a chance to play, and he has seen what each can and can’t do.
His fresh squad is expected to play CHAN 2025 in Nairobi, Kampala and Dar es Salaam from August 2.
He will then focus on fine-tuning their skills in readiness for the upcoming continental tournament.
Among the things he plans on doing is inculcating a positive mindset and being open-minded, too.
McCarthy strongly felt Harambee Star fans and players must adopt an international league-winning mentality for Kenyan football to thrive.
