Former Cape Town City and AmaZulu head coach Benni McCarthy Former Cape Town City and AmaZulu head coach Benni McCarthy has been linked with the Kenya national team. Photo: Phando Jikelo/Independent Newspapers
Image: Phando Jikelo/Independent Newspapers
Former Bafana Bafana star and South African football icon Benni McCarthy is set to be announced as the new head coach of the Kenya national team.
According to reports coming from the East African country, McCarthy is on his way to Nairobi to conclude the deal, and will be unveiled as the country’s new coach this coming Friday.
McCarthy has been on the hunt for a new job ever since leaving Erik ten Hag’s backroom staff at Manchester United at the back end of last season. Since then, he has been linked with a host of clubs in South Africa and the United States.
Prior to Manqoba Mngqithi’s appointment as Mamelodi Sundowns head coach, McCarthy’s name was thrown into the hat as a possible replacement for Rulani Mokwena, who was sacked in the off-season.
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Even after Mngqithi was appointed, rumours linking the former Orlando Pirates forward never went away. Speaking in December, the ambitious McCarthy said he would not return to the Betway Premiership unless he was offered a job by one of the “big three” clubs — Pirates, Sundowns, and Kaizer Chiefs .
But, because those jobs were currently unavailable, he had to look elsewhere.
“I love South Africa, I love our football, but I’m probably never going to manage there unless it is your Richards Bay, your AmaZulu, your Cape Town City.
“So… let me rather go and knock on every door I possibly can … and one day it’s gonna open and if it opens things is going to change. Then I’ll have the opportunity I always wanted.”
McCarthy spent two season as a first team coach at Premier League giants Manchester United. Prior to that, he worked briefly as the head coach of AmaZulu and Cape Town City in the Betway Premiership.
At United, he worked with players like Cristiano Ronaldo, and was credited for helping Marcus Rashford score 30 goals during Ten Hag's first season in charge.
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