Benni McCarthy is on a $62,000 per month salary as a coach for Kenya. To whom much is given, much is expected. To be on a $62,000 monthly salary as a head coach for a country that has never been good in football is something that ought to be analysed.
The authorities of the Kenyan Football Association must be commended for the wonderful foresight to invest heavily in the national team coach. Football has reached a level where you have to invest heavily to achieve your objectives.
Kenya is well known for being a wonderful country when it comes to athletics. They always give whoever dares to challenge them in their lane a tough time. They have yet to replicate a quarter of how good they are in athletics in football.
47-year-old former South African striker Benni McCarthy was unveiled as the new head coach of the Harambee Stars of Kenya on 3rd March 2025. He had just two weeks to prepare for March’s double matches of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Gambia and Gabon.
Kenya, in a fight with Ivory Coast for a slot for the 2026 FIFA World Cup was always going to be the biggest of all challenges because they do not have what it takes to steal the show in Group F.
McCarthy’s first game in charge was a trip to Ivory Coast to face the Gambia. Wilson Wiliams of Central Coast’s 96th-minute strike secured a wonderful 3-3 draw for Kenya. It was a good display for Benni McCarthy’s charges because they created more goal attempts (8) compared to Gambia’s (5). Kenya had four shots on target and scored 3 of them with skipper Micheal Olunga among the scorers. Kenya had four shots off-target. These statistics were so good to read.
Confidence skyrocketed ahead of the Gabon’s clash at the Nyayo National Stadium in Nairobi. Expectations were high on the team because the national team has, over the years, failed to announce themselves on any bigger platform.
The Nyayo National Stadium was fully packed with 30,000 Kenyans clad in red, black and green colours.
Benni McCarthy’s men once again had the same issue with scoring after recording 7 shots off-target. They had the most possession, 54% to Gabon’s 46, and Kenya had 12 goal attempts to Gabon’s 5. Eventually, Aubamenyang scored twice to condemn Kenya to a sad home defeat.
The statistics show that Kenya was so good in the two games but lacked the firepower upfront.
Kenyans are furious with the display of their team after learning that Benni McCarthy is on a $62,000 salary (Ksh8 million), including bonuses every month.
Many think that a coach who can’t beat Gabon doesn’t deserve such a huge salary.
Kenyans are feeling so worried due to Gabon’s defeat, with many suggesting that a country with only 3 million people should not beat Kenya, with a population of over 55 million citizens.
The fans of the Harambee Stars are not thinking of the 2022 FIFA World Cup but want to see their team play to their satisfaction, at least against Grade C and D opponents.
Kenya has won 6 points from 6 games and is a whopping 9 points behind Group F leaders Gabon.
Kenya will host Gambia and Seychelles in rounds 7 and 8 in September in the World Cup qualifiers and will expect the former Manchester United strikers’ coach, Benni McCarthy, to win both games.
