FKF confirms government backing as Benni McCarthy takes charge of Harambee Stars

On Monday after unveiling the highly anticipated and much-speculated appointment of South African Benni McCarthy, Mohammed emphasized the government’s commitment to advancing football in Kenya.

“In our agreement with the government, we have decided this is the way forward. The government has demonstrated its commitment to fulfilling its part of the bargain, and there is no reason to doubt that we are on the right track. We are confident in the government’s support, and I am reassured that we will not face the same challenges as in the past. We are working closely with the current administration, including the Cabinet Secretary, who is aligned with this recruitment. I am confident we will not encounter the issues of the past,” Mohammed stated.

Since taking office, Mohammed’s administration has received positive feedback from various football stakeholders who believe the new leadership will revamp the sport in Kenya and improve the perception of FKF among fans. However, the administration has inherited a staggering Ksh 383 million debt from its predecessors, which has hampered progress and underscored the challenges of previous mismanagement.

During his media briefing, Mohammed called on stakeholders to rally behind his administration, which has already gained momentum, to elevate the level and quality of football in Kenya. He also appealed to corporations to support national teams, including the men’s, women’s, and youth teams, stressing the importance of investment in the sport.

“We are urging more partners and sponsors to come on board. Let’s not leave everything to the government or the federation. To the corporates out there, let me appeal to you, this is a fresh start under a new administration. Now is the time to invest in the national team. Let us not wait until the team underperforms to ask how we could have helped,” Mohammed said.

On McCarthy’s appointment, Mohammed expressed confidence in the South African’s ability to lead the team to success, citing his invaluable experience, competency, and proven track record as decisive factors in his selection.

“After consultations with various stakeholders, we settled on McCarthy because of his experience. We strongly believe he is the right person for the job. He is competent, has a proven track record, and has consistently demonstrated that he is a winner in his previous roles,” he said.

McCarthy, Bafana Bafana’s all-time leading scorer with 31 goals, will be tasked with preparing the Harambee Stars for the upcoming CHAN tournament, scheduled for August, which Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania will co-host. His primary objective will be to hit the ground running and deliver meaningful results in the tournament.

Addressing concerns about his appointment, McCarthy acknowledged the challenges ahead but expressed confidence in FKF’s commitment to improving the state of football in Kenya. He praised the federation’s transparency and vision.

“It is an absolute privilege to be here. I am delighted and cannot wait to begin this new journey. What attracted me to this role was the transparency of the federation and its ambition to restore Kenyan football to its former glory,” McCarthy said.

The 47-year-old boasts an impressive career, having played for top clubs and won the UEFA Champions League under José Mourinho at FC Porto in 2004. His latest managerial stint was at Manchester United, where he served as the forwards coach until his contract expired last June.

While McCarthy assumes his role on short notice ahead of the CHAN tournament, both critics and fans alike will be keen to see how the team performs. However, one thing remains clear, the federation, under Mohammed’s leadership, is determined to take Kenyan football to new heights.