Newly-appointed Harambee Stars coach Benni McCarthy has opted to go with his own men on the technical bench and he is joined by an all-South African coaching staff.
Newly-appointed Harambee Stars coach Benni McCarthy will work with his own backroom staff after roping in fellow South Africans into his technical bench.
McCarthy’s highly-awaited unveiling took place in Nairobi on Monday, having signed a two-year contract that will take his stint in Kenya up to the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations ,and he will work with his trusted lieutenants.
The South African legend will be joined by Vasili Manousakis as Assistant Coach, Moeneeb Josephs as Goalkeepers Trainer, and Pilela Maposa as Performance Analyst, all who have signed two-year contracts.
“After a rigorous selection process, we are confident that Benni McCarthy is the right person to lead our national team forward. His experience, vision, and commitment to developing Kenyan football align perfectly with our ambitions,” FKF president Hussein Mohammed said of the new technical team.
Benni McCarthy becomes Kenya’s head coach, aiming for World Cup qualification, citing transparency and a fresh footballing vision as key reasons.
“Alongside him, we welcome Vasili Manousakis as Assistant Coach, Moeneeb Josephs as Goalkeepers Coach, and Pilela Maposa as Performance Analyst. This team brings a wealth of expertise, and we believe they will instil tactical discipline, structure, and a winning mentality as we prepare for upcoming competitions.”
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Moeneeb Josephs (centre) will be Benni McCarthy’s goalkeeper trainer in Kenya. Photo/FKF
McCarthy has faith in his technical staff and believes they will deliver the objectives set for them in Kenya.
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“I have studied the talent in this country, and I believe there is immense potential to compete at the highest level. Together with my coaching team, including Vasili Manousakis, Moeneeb Josephs, and Pilela Maposa, we are committed to building a structured, disciplined, and competitive squad,” said the former Manchester United first-team coach.
“Our goal is to develop a strong team identity, play exciting football, and make the nation proud. I look forward to working with the players, the federation, and the passionate Kenyan fans to achieve success.”
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Incoming Harambee Stars coach Benni McCarthy will get to work with the man he had selected as assistant after his current cut ties with him.
McCarthy’s technical team is comprised of people he knows too well as he worked with them during his 18-month spell at South African club AmaZulu.
Manousakis was until last week the assistant coach at South African second tier club Cape Town Spurs before the two parties parted ways last weekend while McCarthy played with Josephs at both Orlando Pirates and with Bafana Bafana before he joined him at AmaZulu when he became head coach.
The three were responsible for AmaZulu’s best-ever season when they finished second in the South African top flight in the 2020-21 season, sealing a place to the CAF Champions League the following campaign, and they reached the group stages before leaving the club in March 2022.
Josephs will have a tricky task of finding Kenya’s No.1 as goalkeeping has been an area of concern for Harambee Stars with former coach Engin Firat alternating between Bryne Omondi and Patrick Matasi while the likes of Farouk Shikalo and Ian Otieno have also laid claim on certain occasions.
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Moeneeb Josephs is set for a new coaching role, reuniting with a former teammate in a move that could impact Kenyan football.
Harambee Stars goalkeepers have been erratic in their performances nonetheless, leading to panic at the back, and Josephs will be tasked with finding not just the right shot stopper but one with a cool head to give the rest of the defence confidence.