'You Never Know Who's Watching' - Benni McCarthy on Why CHAN 2024 is Best Chance to Join Paid Ranks Abroad

Harambee Stars coach Benni McCarthy ©Backpage

'You Never Know Who's Watching' - Benni McCarthy on Why CHAN 2024 is Best Chance to Join Paid Ranks Abroad

Joel Omotto 09:10 - 18.07.2025

Harambee Stars coach Benni McCarthy has advised his players to grab their opportunities at CHAN 2024 as it could open doors for them to play abroad.

Harambee Stars coach Benni McCarthy has challenged his players to fully embrace the 2024 African Nations Championships (CHAN 2024) as it could be what changes the trajectory of their careers.

McCarthy is preparing his team for the tournament, played by players who only feature in their local leagues, although Kenya are in a tough Group A that has two-time winners Morocco and DR Congo, COSAFA champions Angola and Zambia.

The South African tactician has, however, remained defiant that his team has the capabilities of going all the way and feels this is the best possible opportunity for them to sell themselves to teams abroad as an impressive display will catch the eye of numerous scouts who will be watching.

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“This tournament is a stepping stone. It’s a life-changing experience. Myself I did not play in CHAN but at U20 level at AFCON U20 (in 1997) and fortunately, I was top scorer and best player and I ended up getting a move to Ajax Amsterdam because of a tournament like that because you never know who is watching,” McCarthy said.

McCarthy Stresses Importance of Impressing at CHAN 2024

Harambee Stars
Benni McCarthy in training with his Harambee Stars players. Benni McCarthy in training with his Harambee Stars players.

“These players, I am drilling into them everyday that this is the best opportunity they are ever going to experience, they are going to have.

“When you play well, impress and become a success story, European teams, top African teams will look at this tournament to look for rough diamonds to take out and that might be the perfect opportunity for them to get dream moves to the top teams in the world.”

The tournament has been used as a stepping stone for a number of players among them Morocco’s Ayoub El Kaabi, the Golden Boot and MVP at the 2018 edition, Nigerian Ejike Uzoenyi, best player in 2014 and Congolese Meschak Elia, the 2016 Golden Boot winner, who earned major moves after impressing at CHAN.

Harambee Stars will begin their campaign against DR Congo on August 3 before facing Angola four days later and then play with Morocco (August 10) and then Zambia (August 17).