Kenya head coach Benni McCarthy has called for calm and patience from fans after facing criticism for his winless start with the Harambee Stars. The former South African striker, who took charge on a two-year deal, is yet to record his first victory in three games and insists the focus right now is on building a competitive squad — not instant results.
Kenya’s latest outing, a 0-0 draw against Chad on Saturday, June 7, at the Stade de Marrakech in Morocco, sparked online backlash. Many supporters expressed frustration with the team’s performance, questioning McCarthy’s tactics and selection. But the 46-year-old coach responded with a strong message: he’s laying the foundation for long-term success.
“Rome wasn’t built in a day,” McCarthy said. “You’re not supposed to come here and suddenly make magic. I’m not a magician. You need time to build something strong, something lasting.”
Rebuilding With CHAN in Mind
McCarthy has been using these international friendlies to prepare for the upcoming 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN), which Kenya will co-host. CHAN is a tournament limited to players based in domestic leagues, and the coach has emphasized that these matches are about experimentation, not just winning.
“This is not about AFC Leopards, Tusker or Gor Mahia — this is the Kenya national team,” he told Flashscore. “The players have to understand what it means to play at international level. These are friendly games where I must test who can handle the jump.”
The 0-0 draw against Chad came after a thrilling 3-3 comeback against Gambia and a narrow 2-1 loss to Gabon in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers. All three matches have shown glimpses of potential, but the lack of victories has made it difficult for fans to stay patient.
Still, McCarthy says judging him on immediate results misses the bigger picture.
“If I was selfish, I’d only pick players based in Europe. But I want to build a proper team for CHAN. That means testing local players, even if it comes with growing pains.”
Kenya Dominated Chad but Failed to Score
In the match against Chad, McCarthy was quick to defend the team’s performance. Kenya had 67% possession and controlled large portions of the game, but they couldn’t find the back of the net. The coach also blamed extreme weather conditions for some of the players’ struggles.
“We played under 42 degrees at 4pm. That’s tough for players who aren’t used to those conditions. Yes, we had water breaks, but the heat was brutal. You could see it affecting the players.”
Despite the draw, McCarthy pointed out that the performance wasn’t entirely negative. His team kept a clean sheet, passed the ball well, and created chances — they just lacked the final touch in front of goal.
“We dominated, but domination doesn’t mean anything if you don’t score. That’s something we have to work on, but I saw good signs.”
Squad Rotation and Player Assessment Key
McCarthy has been rotating his squad to give different players a chance to prove themselves. In Saturday’s game, Brian Bwire started in goal with a backline of Daniel Sakari, Aboud Omar, Alphonse Omija, and Brian Mandela. The midfield featured Alpha Onyango, Brian Musa, and Boniface Muchiri, while Adam Wilson and Moses Shumah led the line.
This blend of local and diaspora-based talent is part of the coach’s vision for a balanced team — one that can handle both CHAN and World Cup qualifiers. He believes that exposing more players to the international stage is the only way to build depth and experience.
“I want to see what players are capable of at this level. That’s how you build a strong national team. You can’t just stick with the same names and hope for miracles.”
Second Clash with Chad Set for Tuesday
Kenya and Chad will meet again on Tuesday, June 10, for a second friendly match at the same venue in Marrakech. According to the Football Kenya Federation (FKF), the game will kick off at 6:00 PM local time and will be streamed live on the Harambee Stars Facebook page and Fanzone TV’s YouTube channel.
McCarthy may stick with a similar lineup for continuity and to give players more minutes together. He stressed that one of the major challenges right now is chemistry — getting the players to understand each other on the pitch.
“These players have only been together for a few days. You can’t expect them to gel immediately. It takes time.”
A Legend with a Vision
Benni McCarthy is no stranger to pressure. He remains South Africa’s all-time top scorer with 31 goals and is the only South African to have ever lifted the UEFA Champions League trophy, which he won with Porto in 2004 under José Mourinho. Before coming to Kenya, he coached AmaZulu in South Africa and served as an assistant coach at Manchester United.
Now tasked with leading Kenya into a new era, McCarthy is determined to get it right. He’s been clear about his long-term goal: to assemble a strong squad for CHAN and beyond, using every match as a stepping stone.
“I’ve been where these players are. I know what it takes to succeed at this level. But you have to walk before you run.”
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