- Kenyan football star Victor Wanyama has issued a message to the next coach of the national team, Harambee Stars.
- The former Tottenham midfielder has joked that the present team is excellent and anything is possible with proper systems in place.
- Former Manchester United assistant coach Benni McCarthy is expected to be officially appointed as the next head coach of Harambee Stars this week.
Kenyan midfielder Victor Wanyama has shared his thoughts on the ongoing debate about who should be the next coach of the Harambee Stars.
Reports have been circulating that this is the week the search for a new coach for the men's national team will come to an end with Benni McCarthy expected to be officially introduced on Friday.
When will Benni McCarthy be appointed as the new Harambee Stars coach?
The South African international is scheduled to arrive in the country on Thursday, ahead of a formal introduction on Friday, marking the beginning of his tenure in his new position.
Although this will be his initial national team assignment, McCarthy arrives with a wealth of experience, both as a player and a coach. His most recent position was at Manchester United, where he was involved with the club's attacking players.
McCarthy will find a team in urgent need of new motivation following the disappointment of missing out on qualifying for the Africa Cup of Nations. Kenya has only participated in the continental competition twice since 2004 despite its vast football resources in the country.
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Wanyama, arguably one of Kenya's greatest players, has challenged the new coach to get the best out of the current team, describing the current players as talented. He likened them to the 2019 team led by coach Sebastian Migne, which successfully qualified for the Egypt AFCON.
I believe we have a very talented team at the moment. I think the federation needs to bring in a coach who can maximize the potential of our players. Migne was successful in qualifying us for the 2019 AFCON, and Okumbi also did well in his tenure.
Wanyama's brother, McDonald Mariga, currently serves as the Deputy President of the Football Kenya federation, and he was responsible for overseeing the selection process of a new coach.
The former Tottenham player also emphasized that it's crucial to have a coach who is familiar with African football. McCarthy's coaching experience has included managing teams in the South African League, such as Cape Town City and Amazulu. As a player, he was awarded the MVP title at the 1998 Africa Cup of Nations.
We also need to have a coach who is knowledgeable about African football and can effectively utilize it to the team's advantage in every situation.
What's in store for Victor Wanyama?
The 33-year-old was also questioned about his future career plans. He departed from the Canadian club Montreal Impact at the end of last year, but he has not yet secured a new team.
"I'm currently waiting to see what unfolds. Once I've carefully considered every proposal I've been presented with, I will select the one that best aligns with my requirements. I've received several offers from Asia, Europe, and Australia, but no final decision has been made at this time," he said.
However, I will continue to play football, and I am actively considering all of my options. Staying in England could be a possibility, but as I have played in England for a while, I am more interested in exploring a different environment.
Benni McCarthy's technical bench at Harambee Stars is
It has been reported that McCarthy will join Harambee Stars' technical bench. His first assignment will be in the World Cup qualifiers. Kenya will face The Gambia away before hosting Gabon four days later next month.
The Gabon match will be the first competitive game Kenya will host in over four years, following the completion of renovations at Nyayo Stadium.
Subsequently, he will prepare the team for the Africa Nations Championships (CHAN) scheduled to take center stage in August.