Former Harambee Stars forward Titus Mulama has put his weight behind Benni McCarthy to succeed as the Kenyan national team head coach should he be appointed in that role.The South African has been heavily linked with the Harambee Stars job which fell vacant after the resignation of former head coach Engin Firat in December 2024.Expectedly, reports of McCarthy’s appointment have elicited mixed reactions from football stakeholders across the country and Mulama explained why he thinks the former Amazulu coach would be the right pick.##NAJAVA_MECA_8620247##“If he is appointed, it would be great because he understands African football, having played here and being African too,” said Mulama in an interview with Tuko.The former Mathare United player also banks on the experience of McCarthy coaching at top clubs not only in the continent but also globally including English Premier League (EPL) giants Manchester United.“It would be easy for him to connect with the players and understand our football culture. Moreover, he has been an assistant in a top-level team and therefore, he understands how to work with players and bring out the best performances,” he added.Lastly, the former Sofapaka midfielder who was capped 71 times with the Harambee Stars believes players would also draw inspiration from the success of McCarthy as a player.Double boost for Homeboyz as influential duo returns“Players will also be motivated because they are working with a coach who has been there and done that,” he concluded.McCarthy served as the attacking coach for Manchester United under Dutch tactician Erik ten Hag between July 2022 and June 2024.The 47-year-old has also had success within the African continent where he notably won the MTN cup with Cape Town FC in 2018. He also led Amazulu to a second place finish in the 2020/21 season of the South African League which remains the club’s best ever finish in the league.##EDITORS_CHOICE##During his playing career, the former West Ham man won the UEFA Champions League in 2004 while plying his trade with FC Porto and remains the only South African to have lifted the most prestigious trophy in club football.McCarthy is also South Africa’s all-time leading goalscorer with 31 goals to his name.
