Benni McCarthy: How he has ‘transformed’ Harambee Stars

When Benni McCarthy was unveiled by the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) on 3 March 2025, optimism swept across the Kenyan football fraternity.
In his first press conference after signing a two-year deal, the former South African international vowed to take Harambee Stars to new heights.
The former Manchester United forwards coach said he had studied the talent in the country and he believed there’s “immense potential to compete at the highest level.”
Now seven months and 12 days (to be specific) later, many Kenyans may say McCarthy was a gift from the gods. McCarthy who won the prestigious UEFA Champions league with Porto in 2004 under the ‘special one’ Jose Mourinho has guided Stars in 13 matches winning six, drawing three and losing four.
But it was the impressive performance at the 2024 Africa Nations Championships (CHAN) held in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania in August that has earned McCarthy more praise and love from both the fans and the players. Kenya topped Group ‘A’ dubbed the ‘group of death’.
Kenya stunned Morocco and the DRC 1-0 before drawing 1-1 with Angola. Notably, Kenya had to play against African eventual champions, Morocco, with 10 men after Marvin Nabwire was sent off while Chrispine Erambo was also red-carded against Angola.
Kenya finished the group stage on 10 points one ahead of Morocco and booked her spot in the quarters against Madagascar where she lost 3-4 on penalties after the game ended 1-1 in regular time.
In the seven months he has been in charge, the former Cape Town City and Amazulu FC coach has rebuilT Kenya’s footballing identity around discipline, structure, and attacking flair. Stars have shown flashes of potential — but also reminders that rebuilding takes time.
Beyond his tactical acumen, McCarthy has shown that he is not afraid to take risks by making strings of changes in his squad also showing the he also has no favorites.
In his own words ‘I select players based on merit.’ “If you want to start the match, impress me in training sessions and during games,” said McCarthy ahead of the encounter against Angola in August.
In the dressing room he is considered a father figure with defender Dennis Sakari calling him ‘Baba’ (Dad). “We work and play for him. We know what he has achieved both as a coach and a player, so we trust what he says,” added Sakari.
Beyond tactics, McCarthy’s arrival has injected a winning mentality and professional discipline.Training sessions are reportedly more intense, with clear structures and tactical drills. Players often speak of McCarthy’s direct communication and emphasis on accountability.
There’s also renewed team spirit. Whether in victory or defeat, the squad projects unity — a stark contrast to previous years when internal divisions often spilled into the public eye.
Despite the thrilling performances at the CHAN, in World Cup qualifiers, Kenya’s results have been mixed. Wins against Burundi and Seychelles offered optimism, but a humbling defeats against Gambia and Cote D’Ivoire everyone how far the Stars still have to climb.
The standout player under McCarthy has been Ryan Wesley Ogam. The Wolfsberger AC striker was handed the national call up during the CHAN and he was so impressed with the call even when he was still not fit to play due to a knee injury that had sidelined him for three months.
The former Tusker forward has  revealed that every national team camp presents an opportunity to improve his game and grow as a professional.
“It is a huge pleasure to don the national team colors. The jersey comes with its own weight of responsibility as we represent millions of Kenyans, so to me it is a great honour, and I am committed to giving my best every time I get the opportunity,”  said Ogam who has netted six times in eight appearances.
McCarthy’s biggest contribution so far has been introducing a clear tactical identity. Kenya now lines up primarily in a 4-3-3, occasionally switching to a 4-2-3-1 when protecting a lead.
The new system emphasizes:


Vertical transitions: Quick breaks from defense to attack


Pressing: A higher defensive line and coordinated press, particularly in midfield


Structured buildup: Encouraging defenders to play out from the back, the modern day football


McCarthy has strongly criticized former coach Engin Firat and other sceptics who had claimed that Kenya lacks football talent, insisting that such opinions overlook the potential and skill present in the country’s players. Firat had said that Kenya is a country where people knew little about football and, as a result, did not show enough respect for the sport.
“Kenya is a country where they don’t know anything about football, so in that sense, they don’t respect it enough. We won against the Asian Championships in Qatar and no one cared,” Firat said, at the time.
However, Benni holds a very different view regarding football talent in Kenya, noting that Firat and others who doubted the country’s potential had underestimated the work involved. The Harambee Stars coach emphasized that he believes in giving players the freedom to make decisions on the pitch rather than micromanaging every action.
He explained that while he provides instructions and guidance, he does not feel the need to monitor every single move, allowing players to take ownership of their game.
“Whoever said that there was no talent was either smoking on something or they just didn’t do their job accordingly, because Kenya is full of talent,”  McCarthy said in an interview shared by KBC journalist Caren Kibet on Instagram.
The South African top goal scorer has given the players the freedom to think for themselves, ” I do not to be micromanage players, telling them exactly what to do, how to do and when to do it.
“So, you give them the instructions, you guide them, and you let them go out and be players and search and find ways to be better from what you explained.”
Kenya ended its 2026 World Cup Qualifier campaign with a humbling 3-0 defeat in the hands of Cote D’Ivoire in Abidjan yesternight.
McCarthy’s men hardly had a foothold into the game and were lacking in all areas against a star-studded Ivory Coast team that should have won by a bigger margin had they taken most of their chances.
The Harambee Stars boss accepts that there was little his team would have done when playing such a top-quality team.
“The objective was to go out there and try and complicate for Ivory Coast national team because we are a professional team, we do not want to come here to lose the match but you have to give credit where it is due,” McCarthy said after the match.
With Kenya out of World Cup talks, McCarthy and his men will regroup and embark on a strategy aimed at an impressive performance at the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations.