Benni McCarthy is officially Harambee Stars coach and Keizer Chies legend has given his insight regarding the role.
Kaizer Chiefs legend, Doctor Khumalo, has shared his thoughts on Benni McCarthy’s new coaching job, following his appointment as Harambee Stars coach.
McCarthy, 47, was officially unveiled on Monday in Nairobi, along with his technical team at the Kenyatta International Conference Centre KICC pavilion. The announcement ended the two-month speculation about the vacant position following the departure of Turkish gaffer Engin Firat in December last year.
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McCarthy is taking his first national team job, having spent time with AmaZulu FC, Cape Town City FC and Manchester United. Doctor Khumalo has praised Benni McCarthy’s move, revealing that it’s good for local coaches to go outside South Africa borders.
“There is a WhatsApp group that we’re on, and Benni mentioned that there is a possibility of him signing with Kenya after he has been invited to the country last week,” Khumalo said on Soccer Zone.
“I’m happy to see coaches going outside South Africa and he’s not going to a club but a national team. That on its own is big because he’s putting our football on another level. Pitso Mosimane has done that, and Rulani Mokwena has also done that.”
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The former Orlando Pirates striker has brought along Moeneeb Josephs as his goalkeeper coach, Vasili Manousakis as assistant coach and Pilela Maposa as performance analyst. McCarthy brings with him a wealth of experience, having enjoyed a career both as a player and as coach.
McCarthy broke his tooth as a head coach between 2017 and 2019 with Cape Town City, where he won the 2018 MTN8 title. After the end of his stint at City, McCarthy took over the reigns at AmaZulu and helped the club to finish as runners-up behind Mamelodi Sundowns on the log in SA’s top-flight.
McCarthy also clinched the Coach of the Season award after an impressive run with the KZN-based side. In 2022, the former Bafana Bafana star parted ways with Usuthu and joined English Premier League giants Manchester United as the striker coach under Erik ten Hag.
Upon the expiry of his contract at Man United last year, the ex-FC Porto talisman was back on the coaching market and eventually took over the job at Harambee Stars.
His tenure has already begun as McCarthy was present at the Dandora Stadium on Wednesday, as Gor Mahia put Kariobangi Sharks to the sword in the 3-1 demolition of their rivals. Perhaps he was keeping tabs on the local players ahead of Harambee Stars World Cup qualifiers against The Gambia and Gabon mid this month.
