New Harambee Stars head coach Benni McCarthy is expected to arrive in Kenya before the end of the week, with his official unveiling set for next Friday.
The South African tactician was identified as Kenya’s new head coach in December 2024, but the process of finalizing his appointment faced delays. However, sources within the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) have confirmed that all preparations are now complete.
McCarthy, a former Manchester United first-team coach, is scheduled to land in Nairobi midweek. His appointment comes at a crucial time as Kenya prepares for the upcoming FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Gambia and Gabon.
“He is flying to Nairobi this coming Wednesday. Everything regarding his appointment has been completed, and we have tentatively scheduled his unveiling for Friday,” a source within FKF confirmed.
Once officially unveiled, McCarthy will take over from interim coach Francis Kimanzi and begin immediate preparations for the qualifiers. FKF has also identified several local coaches who will work alongside him as part of his technical bench.
It remains unclear whether McCarthy will lead Kenya in the African Nations Championship (CHAN) tournament in August or if local coaches will handle the matches. The federation is expected to make a decision on that later, with the immediate focus being on the March international break.
Earlier this year, FKF president Hussein Mohammed assured fans that the federation was committed to securing a top coach for the national team. He also acknowledged the financial challenges FKF has faced in the past in paying coaches, emphasizing the need for a structured and sustainable appointment process.
“FKF is working to appoint a substantive coach and a competent technical bench to help us achieve our objectives. That’s why the current technical bench was appointed on an interim basis. We will provide an update on the new coach once all the details are finalized,” Hussein told The Nation.
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