Table of Contents
- Engin Firat led Kenya’s national team for three years and produced mixed results before handing his resignation to FKF in December 2024
- According to sources, Benni McCarthy is the man who has been identified to take charge of Harambee Stars
Harambee Stars has a new head coach who will take charge of the squad from next month, sources reveal. After months of being without a permanent head following the resignation of Turkish international Engin Firat, Benni McCarthy has been identified as the best choice to lead the team.
Engin Firat led Kenya’s national team for three years and produced mixed results before handing his resignation to the Federation of Kenya Football (FKF) President Hussein Mohammed late last year. Mohammed confirmed Firat’s departure in a statement released on December.
According to CAF Online, unpaid salary arrears greatly contributed to the exit of Firat but FKF are working hard to ensure such issues get solved. The manager also mentioned inadequate infrastructure such as underdeveloped pitches as a barrier to his work. Under his reign, Kenya played 23 matches and recorded seven wins, nine losses and seven draws.
Former Harambee Stars head coach Engin Firat. Photo/ NTV Kenya.
Francis Kimanzi, who is a recognized figure in Kenya’s football coaching scene, was handed the responsibility of leading the technical staff with John Kamau and Zedekiah Otieno ‘Zico’ serving as deputies. Arnold Origi assumed the position of the goalkeeping coach while Mikael Igediah oversaw fitness technology.
The team of coaches led Harambee Stars to a third place finish in the Mapinduzi Cup which took place in Zanzibar. However, they might soon be stepping down from their positions to allow South African international Benni McCarthy to lead team Kenya alongside his staff.
Benni McCarthy, Harambee Stars New Head Coach
McCarthy, who is a former professional football player and South Africa’s all-time leading goalscorer with 31 goals, will arrive in Kenya before the end of this week. Nairobi Wire reports that the 47-year-old will attend the highly anticipated Mashemeji derby between Kenyan Premier League champions Gor Mahia and their bitter rivals AFC Leopards on Sunday.
Benni McCarthy. Photo/ The South African.
“We have a new coach, Benni McCarthy, who will be taking over the team and is expected to arrive before the end of the week. He is a highly qualified coach, and we believe he can guide the national team to success.” A FKF official recently told Nairobi Wire.
McCarthy’s first major challenge will be leading Kenya in a crucial World Cup qualifier match against West Africa’s Gabon at Nyayo National Stadium. This will mark the first time in over a year that Kenya will be playing at home, having played their previous international fixtures in Uganda and South Africa.
Kenya are currently fourth in Group F with five points after four games. The group has reigning African Cup of Nations champions Ivory Coast, who are first with ten points, Gabon who have nine, Burundi who have seven, Gambia who have three and Seychelles who are yet to win a point.
Who Is Benni McCarthy?
If you’re an English Premier League fan then the name Bennie McCarthy must be ringing a bell. Well, this is because the 47-year-old recently worked with a top Premier League club and previously played in the English club.
Let’s get started; McCarthy is a former footballer who began his football journey in South Africa playing for the youth teams of Young Pirates and Crusaders. He turned professional in 1995 at Seven Stars and caught the attention of Dutch club Ajax who secured his signature in 1997.
Benni McCarthy during his playing days. Photo/ Africa Is a Country.
After two years in the Eredivisie, McCarthy moved to Spain where he played for Celta Vigo. In 2003, he joined Porto and later had a spell at Blackburn Rovers and West Ham United before returning to Africa where he spent his last career days playing for Orlando Pirates.
Following his retirement in 2016, he shifted to coaching and was assistant manager at Sint-Truiden. He then led Cape Town City and Amazulu before securing a lucrative deal in England where he was a first-team coach during Erik Ten Hag’s time.
