Former South African international striker Benni McCarthy will be officially unveiled on Monday afternoon as the new Harambee Stars head coach by the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) at Serena Hotel, Nairobi.
Benni, fondly known as the “Zulu Warrior” in football circles, is expected to sign a two-year deal that will see him stay in charge until 2027 as he starts his era in the star’s touchline.
The soft-spoken McCarthy, who arrived in Nairobi on Thursday last week, has a big reputation and is not only expected to sharpen the Harambe Stars frontline but ensure fluidity in midfield and also tighten the rare guard.
News that McCarthy will be the man to take over the mantle at national football team Harambee Stars was a big relief. McCarthy is a tried and tested man. As a player, he was prolific. As a coach, he a proven track record.
But, will he succeed where many before him have failed? McCarthy arrives in Nairobi with a formidable reputation, but can he translate his illustrious playing career into success in the dugout?
While no one doubts his ability as a footballer—he remains Bafana Bafana’s all-time top scorer with 31 goals in 70 appearances and the only South African to win the UEFA Champions League—his ability to steer Kenya back to greatness will be the real test.
The former Manchester United first team coach will be replacing interim boss Francis Kimanzi, who stepped in following the controversial departure of Turkish tactician Engin Firat.
Since Sebastian Migné led Kenya to the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon), the national team has been on a downward spiral. Their recent performances, including failing to qualify for the 2025 Afcon and suffering humiliating defeats in the CHAN qualifiers, have left fans disillusioned.
McCarthy arrives with an impressive CV, but faces a monumental challenge to transform the Harambee Stars into a competitive force.
He remains the only South African to have lifted the UEFA Champions League trophy, achieving the historic feat with FC Porto in the 2003–04 season under the guidance the “special one” of Jose Mourinho.
But will his experience at the highest levels of European football translate into success in the dugout? His coaching journey suggests he might just have what it takes.
McCarthy began his coaching career in Belgium as an assistant at Sint-Truiden before taking over as head coach at Cape Town City. In 2018, he led the team to victory in the MTN 8 Cup, securing his first piece of silverware as a coach.
His success continued at AmaZulu, where he masterminded the club’s best-ever league finish in the modern era, guiding them to second place in the 2020–21 DStv Premiership and earning them a place in the CAF Champions League.
His immediate challenge will be revamping a squad that has under-performed in recent years. His first assignment is less than three weeks away, as Gabon comes calling in the 2026 World Cup qualifier in Nairobi. He also has to assemble the local boys for the CAF African Nations Championship (CHAN) 2025 in August.
The Firat era was marked by inconsistency, with the team managing just seven wins in 23 matches under the Turkish tactician. An era that was marked with losses at crucial stages, disappointing show from the players, playing home games away from home and continuous lamentations from the coach targeting the players and the federation.
Now, the pressure is on McCarthy to deliver results and restore pride to Kenyan football.
McCarthy’s coaching philosophy revolves around attacking football, pressing high, and playing with intensity—traits he has emphasized throughout his managerial career. At Cape Town City and AmaZulu, his teams were known for their fluid passing and relentless attacking play.
Kenyan football fans, who have long endured defensive and uninspiring performances, could see a more dynamic approach under his leadership.
However, success will depend on more than just tactics. Harambee Stars have struggled with administrative instability, player selection controversies, and a lack of consistent squad development. Beyond the broader structural issues plaguing Kenyan football, McCarthy faces immediate on-field challenges with the national team:
Goalkeeping conundrum
One of the biggest problems is the goalkeeping situation. Bryne Omondiis currently the only goalkeeper of note in the team, and former international Boniface Oluoch has publicly acknowledged the country’s goalkeeping crisis.
McCarthy will need to find a solution, whether by promoting young talents or scouting Kenyan-eligible goalkeepers from abroad.
Heavy Olunga reliance
There is also the issue of over-reliance on captainMichael Olunga, who plays in Qatar for goals. When Olunga is unavailable, the team’s attack falters, creating a ‘mini-crisis’ in finding the net.
McCarthy will need to spread the goalscoring burden across the squad to ensure that the team does not crumble in Olunga’s absence.
Ageing Akumu
In midfield, McCarthy faces the impending retirement of long-serving defensive midfielder Teddy Akumu, who has been a vital player for the team for over a decade.
While Akumu remains one of the Stars’ best performers, he has admitted that he is nearing the end of his career. Fortunately for McCarthy, Kenya has depth in this position, with players like Chris Erambo, Biron Otieno, Musa Oundo, and others waiting in the wings.
Inadequte wingers
The absence of natural wingers in the national team is another area of concern. Currently, players such as right-back Rooney Onyango and midfielders Timothy Ouma and Duke Abuya are being deployed in wide positions, but they are not natural wingers. McCarthy will need to address this issue by identifying or developing wingers, although the pool of available talent in this position is limited.
One area where McCarthy could make an immediate impact is in player motivation. Known for his charismatic personality, he has the ability to instill belief in his squad. His presence alone could inspire players to elevate their game, much like how he galvanized AmaZulu to their historic CAF Champions League qualification.
McCarthy’s appointment makes him only the third African coach from outside Kenya to manage Harambee Stars, following in the footsteps of Nigeria’s Christian Chukwu and Algerian-Belgian Adel Amrouche.
Unlike his predecessors, who were assisted by natives on the technical bench, McCarthy is expected to bring his fellow Southerners on the fold. If talks in the South African media are anything to go by, he will be assisted by Vasili Manousakis, as Moeneeb Josephs takes over the goalkeepers coach’s duty. His trusted former colleague at Amazulu, Pilela Maposa, will take over performance analysis duties.
