'I don't Force People' - Harambee Stars Coach on Why Only Defenders Stepped Up for Penalties Against Madagascar

Harambee Stars coach Benni McCarthy has revealed that a number if his players elected not to take penalties before Kenya lost the shootouts to Madagascar in their CHAN 2024 quarter-final.

Kenya were eliminated on post-match penalties on Friday after losing 4-3, having played out a 1-1 draw in regulation and extra time, after Alphonce Omija’s 48th header had been canceled out by Fenohasina Razafimaro’s goal from the spot.

Harambee Stars fans were surprised to see only defenders step up during the high-pressure moment when they needed to win the penalties to advance to the semi-final.

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Siraj Mohammed, Daniel Sakari and Sylvester Owino were the first three penalty takers for Kenya, scoring all them, but after goalkeeper Byrne Omondi had saved one from Madagascar and given his team an advantage, Michael Kibwage and Omija missed their spot kicks as Harambee Stars crashed out.

After the game, McCarthy defended his penalty takers, revealing that they were the ones who were brave enough to step up after the pressure of the moment had been too much for some of their team-mates.

“I don’t force people to take penalties,” McCarthy told the media, responding to why only the defenders stepped up.

“We know yesterday [Thursday] in training we do penalty shoot-outs so when you get to this stage when players develop a certain ceaser for taking penalties in front of the environment [fans] I am not that kind of coach that force people to go.”

McCarthy, who was known for taking penalties during his playing days, says he understands how the pressure of the moment can be for players and prefers to go with those who are confident enough to rise to the occasion.

“I take the ones who are confident enough to take and if you miss, that is my responsibility because I gave them the choice to take or not to take,” added the former South Africa striker.

“If players say; ‘no they are not confident enough’ whether they are really good but they are not confident enough to play in front of 40,000 people.

“That kind of pressure moment is not for everyone. You don’t know what is like to be there. It is a high-pressure moment so you have to have a tough stomach to endure and that is why I don’t force and oblige people to take penalties.”

Attacking players are known to be preferred when it comes to penalty shootouts although a number of defenders have also showed quality from the spot as witnessed with Kenya’s first three takers on Friday.