Benni McCarthy is set to reunite with some familiar faces as he prepares to assume the role of head coach for the Kenya national football team this week.
The South African coach, who has built strong working relationships with key figures throughout his career, will be joined by two trusted colleagues as part of his technical team at the Harambee Stars.
McCarthy previously worked with Moeneeb Josephs, his former Orlando Pirates teammate, during his time as head coach at AmaZulu, where Josephs served as the team’s goalkeeper coach.
Alongside Josephs, McCarthy also collaborated with Vasili Manousakis, who worked as an assistant coach under McCarthy at both AmaZulu and Cape Town City.
Now, as McCarthy embarks on his new adventure with the East African nation, he has made it clear that he wants both Josephs and Manousakis by his side to help elevate the Kenyan national team.
With Josephs, the move is more straightforward, as the former Bafana Bafana goalkeeper is expected to travel with McCarthy for his official unveiling this week, joining his former coach in his new role.
However, the situation with Manousakis is more complicated. Currently contracted to Cape Town Spurs as their assistant coach, Manousakis is deeply involved in the club’s efforts to avoid relegation in the Motsepe Foundation Championship.
Given the urgency of Spurs’ situation, Football Kenya Federation (FKF) may need to initiate negotiations with the Western Cape outfit in order to release Manousakis from his contract, allowing him to make the move to Kenya and become a key member of McCarthy’s technical staff with the Harambee Stars.
This development comes as a surprising twist for McCarthy, who has recently completed a stint as the first-team attacking coach at Manchester United.
His appointment as the new coach of Kenya marks a significant career shift, but McCarthy’s focus on assembling a strong and familiar backroom staff suggests he’s determined to build a winning team for Kenya, with a mix of both fresh ideas and trusted experience.
As McCarthy takes on the challenge of leading Kenya, his ability to attract and rely on seasoned professionals like Josephs and Manousakis will be key to his success in guiding the national team to new heights.
With the stakes high, McCarthy’s experience and tactical knowledge, combined with the support of his trusted assistants, will be crucial as Kenya looks to make strides in international football.