Benni McCarthy Explains Why ‘High Quality’ Local Kenyan Players Badly Need Foreign-Based Stars

Amid the criticism that he has faced for overlooking a number of local-based players who are on form, Harambee Stars coach Benni McCarthy insists he must have more foreign-born stars.

McCarthy’s 23-man team for the FIFA Series, which will begin with a match against Estonia on Friday evening, was full of foreign-based players with eight who ply their trade in the FKF Premier League and that has not gone down well with some.

Some observers feel the South African coach left out many deserving players but McCarthy says the local-based stars are benefiting immensely from having many of their teammates who play in Europe as the levels are very different.

“These players bring a little bit of professionalism because the way professional it is locally compared to abroad in Europe is two different stories,” McCarthy told the media in Kigali, Rwanda.

“I think I would love to see these players come back from Europe and come here and just intensify the training to another level and it will only help the local players to also improve because I think quality-wise, the local players are very high.”

“Since they have been with me, there has been massive improvement but the biggest improvement will come when there are better players coming int the national team.”

McCarthy is looking to further integrate players born abroad and eligible to represent Kenya into the team and is happy that Zech Obiero, and Clarke Oduor are part of the squad in Rwanda.

“They bring a different element, quality and texture that you need on that field and finesse. That is what they bring and help the local players adjust to that which will be really nice,” he added.

“These guys [Obiero and Oduor] came in and did not look out of place and there has been a good partnership with the internationals and locals and everybody is settled in and they accept.”

McCarthy will hope that the lessons learnt can be applied from the start at the FIFA Series where they will play either Rwanda or Grenada on Tuesday depending on how they perform on Friday.