Harambee Stars head coach Benni McCarthy is keen not only to steer the Kenyan national football team to greater heights but also to open international doors for his players.As he begins his tenure, McCarthy is setting his sights beyond results—focusing on development, exposure, and building a more globally competitive squad.Follow Our WhatsApp Channel For More News!!!The South African tactician believes Kenya is rich with raw talent, and he has been particularly inspired by the hunger and drive he has witnessed among the players.However, McCarthy insists that growth will not happen overnight.Mvurya confirms Kenya’s payment of Ksh1.6 billion CHAN hosting fee to CAFHis approach is deliberate: build confidence, understand each player thoroughly, and then connect the right talent with the right opportunities.“You don’t want to rush into things,” McCarthy cautioned during an interview with NTV’s Sport On.“First, we need to stabilize, get to know the players—not just their footballing ability but their character as well. Only then can you start thinking about putting them on a bigger stage.”##NAJAVA_MECA_8842308##For McCarthy, this “bigger stage” includes Europe, where he has deep-rooted relationships developed during a storied playing and coaching career.While he makes it clear that his priority is building a strong national team, he is also willing to pick up the phone to help a deserving player.“It costs me nothing to call Nottingham Forest, for instance,” he said, referencing current manager Nuno Espírito Santo, a former teammate at FC Porto.“Nuno knows how to revive careers. Look at Anthony Elanga—he wasn’t thriving at Manchester United, but now he’s one of the top performers in the Premier League.”“If I see a player here in Kenya—let’s say someone like Marcelo—lighting it up, I can always say to Nuno, ‘Hey, I’ve got someone special here, take a look’,” said McCarthy.AFCON U20: Kenya U20 midfielder highlights missing ingredient in English League One attackerBefore taking over Harambee Stars, McCarthy had an illustrious career across Europe, turning out for clubs like Ajax Amsterdam, Celta Vigo, FC Porto, and Blackburn Rovers.##NAJAVA_MECA_8842308##He later joined the coaching staff at Manchester United, working with attacking players and gaining even more insight into the demands of top-tier football.
