Benni McCarthy has revealed why he decided to take the Kenyan national team job over an Major League Soccer position.
New Kenya boss Benni McCarthy has revealed why he chose to take the national team job over any of the Major League Soccer (MLS) sides he spoke to.
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Bafana Bafana’s all-time top goalscorer is now in charge of the Harambee Stars, marking his first stint as a national team head coach. The Capetonian did not have his contract renewed at Manchester United at the start of the 2024/25 season, and since then, speculation has been rife about his next move.
The 47-year-old had previously hinted at being interviewed by various Major League Soccer sides, but he has now shed light on why he opted to take charge of the East African nation instead.
“I did have a few interviews for jobs in the MLS in the United States, but then this came back,” he told the Football Kenya Federation.
“I think it is a sleeping giant in my eyes. I looked at the project, and it’s a country that has a lot of potential. They have some really talented young players who play abroad in Europe and all over, and if you have the right mindset, the right mentality, you can do something special with the team.
“But also, when I spoke to the federation, Deputy President (MacDonald) Mariga spoke to my agent and told me that they were really interested.
“With Kenya, it was an opportunity where there was a lot of respect from the federation’s side. President Hussein (Mohammed) and Deputy President Mariga had conversations with me, expressing their admiration and belief that my mentality, mindset, and journey—from Africa to Europe at such a young age, surviving and flourishing under those circumstances—are stories that Kenyans can relate to.
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“When you hear people talk about you in that way, it makes you want to align yourself with them, share the same passion, and just go out and work. So I thought, yeah, it was a perfect opportunity.”
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