The Kenya national football team, Harambee Stars, opened a new chapter on Monday, after unveiling its new head coach. Former South African player and Manchester United attack coach, Benni McCarthy will lead the Stars until the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations, which Kenya will co-host with Uganda and Tanzania.
McCarthy has a brief coaching career, having worked at Sint-Truiden, Cape Town City, Amazulu and Manchester United. This is his first international job and he will hope to make an impression as he builds his coaching resume.
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McCarthy vowed to create a team built on discipline, structure and competitiveness while praising the talent and potential in Kenyan football.
“I am honoured to take on this role and excited about the journey ahead with the Kenyan national team. I have studied the talent in this country, and I believe there is immense potential to compete at the highest level. Together with my coaching team, including Vasili Manousakis, Moeneeb Josephs, and Pilela Maposa, we are committed to building a structured, disciplined, and competitive squad. Our goal is to develop a strong team identity, play exciting football, and make the nation proud. I look forward to working with the players, the federation, and the passionate Kenyan fans to achieve success,” McCarthy said during his unveiling.
On his part, Football Kenya Federation (FKF) President Hussein Mohammed expressed his confidence in McCarthy and his leadership.
“After a rigorous selection process, we are confident Benni McCarthy is the right person to lead our national team forward. His experience, vision, and commitment to developing Kenyan football align perfectly with our ambitions. Alongside him, we welcome Vasili Manousakis as Assistant Coach, Moeneeb Josephs as Goalkeepers Coach, and Pilela Maposa as Performance Analyst. This team brings a wealth of expertise, and we believe they will instil tactical discipline, structure, and a winning mentality as we prepare for upcoming competitions.”
McCarthy will be assisted by Vasili Manousakis, Moeneeb Josephs, and Pilela Maposa. He replaces Turkish manager Engin Farat who resigned in December after Mohammed took over the federation.
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How Much Will Benni McCarthy Earn?
Local news sites such as Pulse Kenya revealed the South African will earn Ksh 8 million or $62,000 monthly, including bonuses.
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While many Kenyan football fans question how the federation will pay this sum, it’s not an unrealistic figure considering his international reputation.
As the attack coach at Manchester United, McCarthy earned £40,000 (Ksh 6.6 million) per week, which was £160,000 (Ksh 26.4 million) during his two years, July 2022 to July 2024.
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McCarthy Has His Work Cut Out
McCarthy’s first assignment with the Stars is a CAF World Cup Qualification against Zambia on March 19 and then Gabon. Kenya has never qualified for the World Cup and automatically qualifies for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations as hosts.
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