‘You Don’t Want a Coach that Keeps Losing’ - Benni McCarthy Defends Harambee Stars Squad Selection

Harambee Stars coach Benni McCarthy has responded to critics who have slammed him over his squad selection for the upcoming FIFA Series.

McCarthy has come under fire in the last week over what some thought was a squad that left out other ‘deserving’ players due to the good season they are enjoying with their respective clubs.

The South African coach included most of those who have turned out for him with the addition of England-based Clarke Oduor, Zak Vyner and Zech Obiero, the last two looking to make their Harambee Stars debut.

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McCarthy insists those he selected are the ones he trusts to do the job because he learnt from his mistakes during the last international window, when he selected a largely inexperienced side to play against Equatorial Guinea and Senegal, losing 8-0 to the latter.

“We are monitoring all the players in the local league and if you do well then yeah, we do select. But if we have players that play abroad and in a much stronger competition, why would you not select?” he posed.

“When you experiment, then you get a scenario when you go play Senegal. Experimenting doesn’t end well and then who must face the music? Those coaches who are crying for their players? Because it was their players that were part of the team so I am the one who has to answer for that.

“Rightfully so because I thought it was an opportunity for them to put them in the squad and then unfortunately, the end result wasn’t what we wanted.

With Kenya set to face Grenada, Estonia and Rwanda in the FIFA Series in Kigali, McCarthy is keen to have a strong squad that will put up a good show to a void a scenario where they keep getting beaten, something that will cast a negative light on the squad and him.

“We do not want to make the same mistakes over and over because you learn from downfalls and mistakes that you have made,” he added.

“The players we called deserved to be there [but] unfortunately, they played us up against Senegal. If it was against Madagascar, Comoros it would have been a completely different scenario so [now] we go with what we know, the tried and tested, the strongest team because the more negative results you get, it does not reflect good on the team and on me and I have to answer why the team is not winning.

“You do not want a coach that keeps losing matches,” McCarthy further stated.