‘I am Lucky to Work with Benni’ - Harambee Stars Performance Analyst Lists What Makes McCarthy Different

Harambee Stars performance analyst Nick Kimanthi has shared how working with a professional like Benni McCarthy is making it easy to improve levels of Kenyan players.

Harambee Stars have experienced an improvement in results since coach Benni McCarthy took over and while the tactician has been credited with the success, there are other unsung heroes who work behind the scenes.

One of them is the team’s data analyst Nick Kimanthi, who also doubles up as their team manager, and he is tasked with tracking the players’ performance details such as distance covered, speed, player load, impacts, work ratio and even heart rate, which contribute to the overall output on matchdays and in training.

They also inform the coach whether a player is ready to play 90 minutes or less, what areas to go hard on and the strengths as well as weaknesses of the opponent when preparing for a game.

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Kimanthi is an experienced data analyst who has worked with sides in England and Spain and also with FIFA at the 2022 World Cup before joining Harambee Stars in March 2024.

Data Use has Brought Accountability in Harambee Stars

“We do not rely on personal opinion or being subjective. We rely on data because we track everything from training, we give you the GPS which helps us know what you have done,” Kimanthi said on Sporty FM over how he goes about his business.

“We will know if you have the physical capabilities to give us 90 minutes or 15 minutes because if you do not give us in training, there is no other way we will know your potential.”

He is delighted that Kenyan players have embraced data and are now raising their performance levels knowing ‘Big Brother’ is watching.

“I have seen players coming into the national team without knowing what is GPS but once you sit down with them, then they appreciate and they know since I am tracked, I have to push and it is also a source of accountability,” he added.

“Sometimes, you do not want to look at the data but someone will be like how is my data looking like? It is accountability that makes them want to push and be better.”

How Does Benni McCarthy Handle Performance Metrics?

Having worked under different coaches, Kimanthi is thankful that McCarthy is in tune with data and does not bog him down with unnecessary demands since he understands how everything works which has contributed to the improved performances.

“The coach makes the decisions but you are there to support him to make his work easier. When he is in a dilemma, he would come to ask and that is when you share the numbers,” he said.

“I am lucky enough to work with Benni because he understands data and exactly what you need to give him. You do not just give him numbers; he is very specific on what he wants, and what does that mean. You do not even have to interpret to him.

“I have worked with different coaches and others want you to go deeper, do a presentation and help them understand, others want you to present to the players directly.”

Now pursuing his PhD, Kimanthi, who has a Masters of Science in Sport Performance Analysis, is delighted that Kenyan football is slowly embracing data although he feels the country is still miles away from catching up with the rest of the world.