Benni McCarthy Breaks Down How Harambee Stars Handed Him First Win as He Makes Big CHAN 2024 Promise

Harambee Stars coach Benni McCarthy (inset) is delighted with the progess of his team. Photo: FKF Media

Benni McCarthy Breaks Down How Harambee Stars Handed Him First Win as He Makes Big CHAN 2024 Promise

Joel Omotto 13:00 - 11.06.2025

Harambee Stars coach Benni McCarthy has explained reasons behind his team’s victory over Chad and what gives him high hopes for a great performance during CHAN 2024.

Harambee Stars coach Benni McCarthy has expressed his delight that his players finally applied what they had been working on in training and it yielded results.

McCarthy watched his team beat Chad 2-1 in an international friendly in Morocco on Tuesday with Emmanuel Osoro and David Sakwa scoring Kenya’s goals in the first half before Ali Mahamat Adam pulled one back for their opponents after the break.

It was the first win under the South African tactician, the victory coming after Harambee Stars had wasted a number of opportunities to record a goalless draw against the same opponent last Saturday, and the former Manchester United first-team coach is happy with the progress.

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“Very happy for the boys, they have had a very good week in camp, good time, got to know each other very well, the training sessions and I think we got closer this week,” McCarthy said after the match.

McCarthy Happy to Get What His Players Deserve

David Sakwa (right) in action for Harambee Stars against Chad. Photo: FKF

“The first game we played really well, we deserved to win and when you do not win and you could see the expression on the face of those players, to play the way that we did and don’t win. Today, I told them to kick on and if they play the way we did and create the chances and take them, then you will see how easy it becomes.

“Today the boys who came in, did well, they took moments, created so much more and it was just nice to see that we were able to start to see your team start to play the way you want your team to move and understand each other so lots of those positives came out in today’s game and I am delighted for the team that they got a win that they deserve and hopefully we can build from this.”

The former Cape Town City and AmaZulu coach then explained what his team had worked on in training that was a joy to see when it came off well during the game.

“It was based on our first game against the [Chad] because we did well but what we lacked was being clinical and I think the training session we did yesterday [Monday] before the game was about players being comfortable on the ball and what you do when you get past the halfway line and then it is to attack with speed and move the ball quicker and just faster not to allow the opposition team not to get in their position,” he added.

Benni Delighted with Tactical Application

Alpha Inyango (right) playing for Harambee Stars against Chad. Photo: FKF

“It was a lot of movements, players getting from one side to the other, getting down to the touchline and putting balls in but players getting inside the box, making that near post run and exactly the first goal came from Ben Stanley getting down, putting in a beautiful cross and them Emmanuel Osoro making that near post run that we talked about yesterday and he got rewarded with his finish.”

McCarthy feels he is starting to build a good team towards the 2024 African Nations Championships (CHAN 2024) and believes international players like Brian Bwire, Brian Mandela, William Lukupae and Adam Wilson were instrumental in helping the many local-based players in the team get to know the standards expected of them.

What Next for Harambee Stars From Here?

Harambee Stars
Austin Odhiambo and Emmanuel Osoro of Harambee Stars: Photo || FKF Gor Mahia midfielder Austin Odhiambo (L) and scorer of Harambee Stars goal against Chad Emmanuel Osoro (Credit: FKF)

“You know what you want to do, the professionalism, and it worked fantastically because these players were very experimental and they were key to what we are trying to do and I think for the boys that will play in the CHAN, I hope from here they have seen the levels we expect and if we reach there,” said the Harambee Stars coach.

“The football we can play and the results we could get so positive things to look forward to CHAN and I am excited that the team will be ready and we will have a good time and prep them so that when CHAN comes, this team will be ready to go and hopefully we can bless the country with move victories to make them happy.”

McCarthy will now shift focus to the CHAN tournament set to kick off in August in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania.