As published by Tiyani Wa Ka Mabasa
Kenya coach Benni McCarthy has ensured the Harambee Stars are punching above their weight at the ongoing African Nations Championship [CHAN] in East Africa.
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Kenya, who are hosts alongside Tanzania and Uganda, have surprised all and sundry.
On Sunday, Kenya beat Morocco 1-0 at the Moi International Sports Centre in Nairobi despite playing with ten men for the whole second half. Kenya is at the top of Group A with seven points from three matches in a group of five teams.
“I played under a certain manager—José Mourinho—the master of such game management,” McCarthy said at the post-match press conference.
“To play with 10 players is hell, but we used to do it as if it was routine. I learned the trade from him: where to tighten, who to sacrifice.”
Mourinho coached McCarthy at Portuguese club Porto two decades ago, winning the UEFA Champions League in 2004, and the latter has followed in the footsteps of Mourinho in the dugout, and with Kenya, he is new to the job, having signed in March.
“It’s not always neat for the fans, but you cling on to your lead at any cost,” he explained.
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“Defenders may be required to do midfielders’ or strikers’ work. That’s what I learned from José—when you lose a player, you send off a striker, keep one workhorse up front, and the others ‘park the bus’… or in our case, park a train and a bus in front!”
McCarthy added, “Our primary goal is to bring success to the country, not to please every individual! If you are in the lead, you protect it at all costs.
“Those are the players that you’ve seen, and you see the qualities and where they can take the team. Do you risk taking someone based on a couple of good games or know what you’re going to have when you’ve seen players? We know everyone is not going to be happy… but I know talent when I see one.”
Kenya are making their debut at the CHAN, and with McCarthy in charge, they have reason to believe they may go far in the tournament despite being ranked 26th in Africa and 109th in the world.
This article has been published in partnership with the African Times.
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