Former Harambee Stars Coach Defends Benni McCarthy Over Squad Selection - ‘Keep Working Hard’

Harambee Stars coach Benni McCarthy has received backing over the criticism he has faced following his selection for the FIFA Series squad.

McCarthy raised eyebrows when he chose his team for the mini-tournament in Rwanda where they faced Estonia on Friday and will take on Grenada on Monday.

The Kenyan team had a mix of youth and experience but the selection of the likes of William Lenkupae, currently without a club, Mohammed Bajaber, who is yet to play in nearly three months for his club Simba SC due to an injury, and Ben Stanley Omondi, who rarely plays for Gor Mahia are some of those that raised questions.

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There was a feeling that some players deserved a look-in such as FKF Premier League top scorer Joe Waithira, Moses Shumah, leading the scoring charts in Zambia, and AFC Leopards playmaker Tyson Otieno but McCarthy has since insisted that he went with the tried and tested, something that has been supported by ex-Harambee Stars boss Zedekiah ‘Zico’ Otieno.

“Right now, it is pre-season for the coach,” Otieno said on Radio 47. “The tournament is AFCON and right now, if you tell him to select this or that player, whom will you blame?” he posed.

“Coaches are hired to make decisions like who will make the team, where they will camp, training drills etc,” the tactician, who coached Harambee Stars between 2010 and 2011, further stated.

“So if you want to pick players for me, then when we lose what will you say? Will you still castigate me and you are the one who chose for me the players?

“Let me choose my players and move with them. Right now, his target and even if I was the coach, is the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations. These are preparations towards the Cup of Nations.”

Otieno feels the criticism directed towards McCarthy is premature as he is just using the friendly matches to test his squad for their suitability for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations and not the final team that will play the tournament.

“We still have one year left, these players not chosen should not lose hope but keep working hard. The AFCON team is not being selected from this game against Estonia. Let them keep working and the coach will still see them,” he added.