Kenya coach McCarthy rewarded coach of the month award after CHAN exploits

Harambee Stars tactician Benni McCarthy is August’s Betika/SJAK Coach of the month. The South African football legend becomes the third foreign coach to lay his hands on the coveted monthly trophy after compatriot and Kabras Sugar RFC’s head coach Carlos Katywa in April and Burundi’s Etienne Ndayiragije, head coach of Kenya Police FC in June.

McCarthy, the only South African to have won the prestigious UEFA Champions League trophy, doing so with Porto in 2004, led Kenya’s Harambee Stars team to its first-ever quarterfinal slot in 38 years.

Harambee Stars overcame two-time champions Morocco (1-0) for the first time in history, also decimating Zambia and 2016 champions Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) 1-0 each before settling for 1-1 draw with Angola.
Kenya settled for a one-all draw with Madagascar in the quarters’ regulation time but lost to the Barea 4-3 on post-match penalties.

The Stars last went past quarters stage during 1987’s Fourth All Africa Games in Nairobi losing 1-0 to the Pharaohs of Egypt in the finals. In winning the August award, McCarthy who is South Africa national team’s all-time top scorer with 31 goals, won a personalised trophy and Ksh. 100,000 courtesy of gaming giants Betika.

To win the August award, McCarthy beat several other nominees among them Strathmore Leos 7’s Rugby team William Ojal, Malkia Strikers head coach Geoffrey Omondi for a maiden FIVB World Championship win over Vietnam and Jackline Barasa who Led Kenya’s women’s U-20 volleyball team to the African Women’s U-20 Volleyball Championship title on August 12, defeating Cameroon 3-1 in the final held in Yaoundé.

Nelson Jaika, who led St. Peter’s Boys High, Mumias was also in the nominees mix after he led the school’s rugby team to victory in the National Rugby 7s championship title. “When you top a group where you’re pooled with Morocco, DRC, Angola and Zambia, you count your blessings. Unfortunately, the game we thought we could win, became a mission impossible,” McCarthy admitted, adding: “There is a lot of talent in this country. Hopefully we will be able to nurture them and grow.”

SJAK President James Waindi extolled the Association’s partnership with Betika, saying; “We appreciate the partnership with Betika as we continue celebrating our long-term commitment to reward excellence in sports. Coaches often go unrecognized, losing the limelight to players when teams perform well. But behind every successful team is a tactically astute coach, and McCarthy has been quite an inspiration to the playing unit.

McCarthy’s illustrious career featured stints at Ajax, Porto, Blackburn Rovers, West Ham, South African giants Orlando Pirates and Celta Vigo among other clubs and has previously worked as the head coach of South African Premier Division sides Cape Town City and AmaZulu, and as first team coach at Premier League club Manchester United.

⚽ Follow Pan-Africa Football across platforms for real-time news and stories.