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Bafana Bafana legend Benni McCarthy is reported to have agreed to take over as Harambee Stars coach but an ex-Kenyan international has made certain demands before his appointment.
South African legend Benni McCarthy is reported to have been identified as the man to take over the Harambee Stars job but former Kenyan international Elijah Onsika wants him to work alongside local coaches.
McCarthy has been widely reported to have agreed to take over from Turkish coach Engin Firat, who quit in December, with his experience both as a player and coach cited as key to his appointment.
Former Harambee Stars player Onsika has given his blessing to the appointment but wants the former Bafana Bafana star to work alongside Kenyan coaches as has been witnessed before.
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“Since FKF has chosen McCarthy, I have no issue with that, but the technical bench must be balanced. We should not exclude Kenyan coaches. If McCarthy is appointed, he should have at least one or two local coaches on his team,” Onsika told Flashscore.
“By doing this, FKF will demonstrate trust in the local coaches and boost their morale. For example, Firat had at least four coaches, including a goalkeeper trainer, and this is the approach we should take.”
Onsika’s suggestion is in line with what has been suggested by various Kenyan stakeholders who feel local tacticians should be given an opportunity to learn from the former Manchester United coach.
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16:50 - 04.01.2025
‘He will make a good coach’ - Kenyan goalkeeper backs Benni McCarthy for Harambee Stars job
The Harambee Stars goalkeeper feels the Bafana Bafana legend will be a success in Kenya owing to his vast experience both as a player and coach in South Africa and Europe.
However, it is not known if McCarthy would like to bring his own backroom staff, as is the norm with most coaches, but this is among issues that must have been discussed during his talks with Football Kenya Federation (FKF).
Meanwhile, Onsika is also calling for the speedy appointment of the tactician, who he feels will be a great asset to Kenyan football given his work with top players, such as Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford, who scored a season’s best 30 goals, in 2022-23 under the South African’s guidance.
“McCarthy is a man on demand because of his achievements, both as a player and a coach. FKF must act quickly to secure him, or he might accept another offer and turn down Kenya,” he added.
“Recently, he was with Manchester United, and you could see how he shaped their strikers. His impact on the team was evident. He was also a talented striker during his playing days, and coming to Kenya, he will help local players develop their skills. He will have the opportunity to work with Michael Olunga and help him grow further.”
Besides Manchester United, McCarthy is also remembered for his stint at Cape Town City, where he led the club to the MTN8 trophy in 2018, before guiding AmaZulu FC to a record second place in the South African top flight in 2021.
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