Harambee Stars head coach Benni McCarthy has once again shed light on his decision to take up the Kenyan national team job, despite receiving offers from Major League Soccer (MLS) and from clubs in his home country, South Africa.McCarthy’s appointment came as a surprise to many. Not only was it his first time coaching a national team, but it also followed his departure from English Premier League giants Manchester United, where he served as a first-team coach. Given his pedigree, many expected him to pursue a high-profile club role overseas.##NAJAVA_MECA_8916478##Follow our WhatsApp channel for more newsHowever, McCarthy instead chose to join the Harambee Stars, initially naming an all-South African technical bench. He has since expanded his coaching team by bringing in former Kenya international Anthony Kimani as a second assistant coach.Speaking in an interview with CGTN TV, the former Bafana Bafana striker explained that the vision presented to him by the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) was too compelling to turn down.Details of new World Athletics event featuring a Ksh1.3 billion prize purse“I thought it was a great opportunity. It’s a prosperous country with a very ambitious new federation that just came into power,” McCarthy said.“The project they sold me was that they want to build a team from now up until 2027, when they host the African Nations Cup (AFCON).”McCarthy praised FKF’s long-term ambitions and their determination to elevate Kenya’s status in African football. He expressed a desire to be part of this transformative journey.“They want to be able to compete and establish a strong foothold in African football,” he added.Kevin Wangaya looking to land life-changing deal after impressive U20 AFCON outing“I thought the opportunity and the foundation of football players they had were really good, and that my team and I could make a change.”With the 2027 AFCON fast approaching—set to be co-hosted by Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania—McCarthy remains optimistic about the future.“We could get the team ready for 2027 when they host the Nations Cup, and we could have a strong say in how the tournament unfolds and how far we can take Kenya—somewhere they’ve never been before. That looked like a decent project for my team and me, and that’s why Kenya.”McCarthy’s next assignment with Harambee Stars will be the CECAFA Senior Challenge Cup, scheduled to take place in June in Kenya.Kenya men’s 4×100m relay team seals World Athletics Championships slot
