New Kenya Football Federation leader Mohammed Hussein asked people to be patient after Bennie McCarthy became head coach of the national team. Kenyans should try to wait, but anyone would feel excited about such an important African coach joining their team. McCarthy brings an amazing record as a player who understands every level of football development. During his legendary career there, he won the UEFA Champions League with F.C. Porto.
His coaching career remains short but successful, with only one rough patch when he started at Cape Town City in 2019. After that small bump, McCarthy led AmaZulu FC to their best season ever, finishing second place in 2020-2021. Then he helped them qualify for CAF Champions League Group Stages through early rounds during their first attempt. McCarthy left AmaZulu back in 2022 when Erik Ten-Hag asked him to coach at Manchester United, but he decided not to stay there because he wanted to run his team.
This hire should make fans trust the new leaders more. The federation has managed things poorly since the 1990s, with many officials treating themselves like kings. President Hussein works with Vice-President McDonald Mariga, who played for Inter Milan before becoming an administrator. Both Mariga and his famous cousin Victor Wanyama know how bad things were because they once paid national team travel costs from their pockets. Power often makes people greedy, and previous presidents used federation money like personal bank accounts. Signing McCarthy for two years shows they want real change.
World Cup dreams exist, but we should stay realistic - the two-year timeframe points toward AFCON 2027, where Kenya must perform well as one of three host countries. Football pride has disappeared from Kenya since their last AFCON appearance thirty-five years ago. National academies started during the 1980s failed to develop talent properly. Kenya has money, population, and love for football but lacks proper development systems for young players.
FIFA has banned Kenya several times since 2004 for government involvement, and many corruption scandals have occurred. Sports Minister Amina Mohammed tried fixing these problems through government audits, which resulted in another ban during 2021-2022. McCarthy accepting this job seems almost crazy considering these problems, but it is only possible because Mohammed and Mariga command respect across Africa. People talk about African solutions for African problems but usually end up copying European models anyway, including football approaches.
The new federation leaders could build their legacy by developing real football infrastructure beyond just physical fields. CAF leader Patrice Motsepe, another South African, wants better administration standards across Africa. Kenya has chances to improve local football and strengthen connections with neighboring countries plus others from the COMESA economic group. Tanzania already shows great progress with its league becoming respected continentally, and South African PSL teams regularly compete well against other African clubs.
If Kenya works closely with East and Southern African nations, they might transform their national team and help the entire African football community grow stronger. Working together represents traditional African values, making it fitting that McCarthy, a South African who understands community concepts like Ujamaa and Ubuntu, leads the Harambee Stars. Good luck to Benny as he starts this journey.
His coaching career remains short but successful, with only one rough patch when he started at Cape Town City in 2019. After that small bump, McCarthy led AmaZulu FC to their best season ever, finishing second place in 2020-2021. Then he helped them qualify for CAF Champions League Group Stages through early rounds during their first attempt. McCarthy left AmaZulu back in 2022 when Erik Ten-Hag asked him to coach at Manchester United, but he decided not to stay there because he wanted to run his team.
This hire should make fans trust the new leaders more. The federation has managed things poorly since the 1990s, with many officials treating themselves like kings. President Hussein works with Vice-President McDonald Mariga, who played for Inter Milan before becoming an administrator. Both Mariga and his famous cousin Victor Wanyama know how bad things were because they once paid national team travel costs from their pockets. Power often makes people greedy, and previous presidents used federation money like personal bank accounts. Signing McCarthy for two years shows they want real change.
World Cup dreams exist, but we should stay realistic - the two-year timeframe points toward AFCON 2027, where Kenya must perform well as one of three host countries. Football pride has disappeared from Kenya since their last AFCON appearance thirty-five years ago. National academies started during the 1980s failed to develop talent properly. Kenya has money, population, and love for football but lacks proper development systems for young players.
FIFA has banned Kenya several times since 2004 for government involvement, and many corruption scandals have occurred. Sports Minister Amina Mohammed tried fixing these problems through government audits, which resulted in another ban during 2021-2022. McCarthy accepting this job seems almost crazy considering these problems, but it is only possible because Mohammed and Mariga command respect across Africa. People talk about African solutions for African problems but usually end up copying European models anyway, including football approaches.
The new federation leaders could build their legacy by developing real football infrastructure beyond just physical fields. CAF leader Patrice Motsepe, another South African, wants better administration standards across Africa. Kenya has chances to improve local football and strengthen connections with neighboring countries plus others from the COMESA economic group. Tanzania already shows great progress with its league becoming respected continentally, and South African PSL teams regularly compete well against other African clubs.
If Kenya works closely with East and Southern African nations, they might transform their national team and help the entire African football community grow stronger. Working together represents traditional African values, making it fitting that McCarthy, a South African who understands community concepts like Ujamaa and Ubuntu, leads the Harambee Stars. Good luck to Benny as he starts this journey.
