Benni McCarthy hints at possible departure from Kenya

Kenya national team head coach Benni McCarthy has suggested he could leave his role as Harambee Stars coach, saying international football limits his ability to work with players on a daily basis.

Although he has enjoyed his time with the Kenya national football team, the South African legend feels underutilised because he only gets short training periods with the squad.

Too young for the Harambee Stars job?

Benni McCarthy says the “experience in Kenya has been unbelievable” but he’s too young to go so long without being active and it’s holding him back.

Adds after “this experience with Kenya, I’m really looking to get back into managing a… pic.twitter.com/anEkQ1eUtj

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Speaking to Robert Marawa, he described the Kenya experience as remarkable but said limited camp time makes it difficult to fully implement his ideas. He added club football suits him more at this stage of his career.

‘I am young to go long without being active’

“As I said, this experience in Kenya has been unbelievable. It’s been remarkable, it has been nice, but I think I’m still too young to go so long without being active. I’m on the training pitch. Smell the grass. I want to improve players,” said McCarthy.

“I want to give, and I feel that it is holding me back from doing that because you don’t have enough time with players, like I’ve not seen them in three months.

“When I see them, I’m only going to have a week to do what I can with them, and I know I think when I get to Hugo Broos’ age, then I want to go back into the national team, but after this experience with Kenya, I’m really looking to get back into managing a club.”

McCarthy was appointed head coach of the Kenya national football team (Harambee Stars) in March 2025, signing a two-year contract to lead them through the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations.

He is set to lead Kenya during the 2027 AFCON which will be co-hosted in East Africa.

The comments from Benni McCarthy have sparked discussions among football supporters in Kenya about the future direction of the national team. Many fans appreciate the experience and reputation that McCarthy brought to the Harambee Stars, especially considering his successful playing career and growing coaching profile.

Before taking the Kenya job, Benni McCarthy had built a solid reputation in club football. His time as head coach of South African side AmaZulu saw the team reach impressive heights in the domestic league and qualify for continental competition. That success helped establish him as one of the promising young coaches from Africa.

The transition from club football to international management can be challenging for many coaches. Unlike club teams, national teams only gather for short training camps and competitive matches during international windows. For a coach like Benni McCarthy, who enjoys working closely with players on the training ground, this limited time can make it difficult to implement tactical ideas and long-term development plans.

Despite the challenges, the South African coach still has an opportunity to leave a positive mark on the Harambee Stars. With the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations set to be hosted in East Africa, Kenya will be hoping to build a competitive team capable of performing well in front of home supporters.

If Benni McCarthy eventually decides to return to club football, his experience with the Kenya national team could still play an important role in his coaching journey. Working with international players and managing a national squad offers valuable lessons that could benefit him in future managerial roles.