Former Bafana Bafana all-time leading striker Benni McCarthy has been appointed the men's national team coach. The Kenyan Football Federation (FKF) confirmed McCarthy's technical team at the Harembe Stars when they unveiled him at a glitzy even yesterday.

PREPARED FOR THE CHALLENGE

McCarthy, the only South African to have won the UEFA Champions League with Porto during the 2003/2004 season under respected coach Jose Mourinho, is expected to change the fortunes as the new head coach of the East African side. An excited McCarthy told the gathering: "I am delighted to be here, and I'm proud to have taken this challenge with a national team that has a lot of potential." FKF President Hussein Mohammed said they have seen Benny as a player and his credentials also as a coach with Amazulu and Manchester United. "This is what the country needs. I know the young people of our country are excited about this appointment," Mohammed said.

THE RIGHT MAN FOR THE JOB

In addition to McCarthy, three other South Africans have joined his technical team. The 47-year-old coach has been joined by his former Orlando Pirates teammate Moeneeb Josephs as goalkeeper coach, and his former AmaZulu analyst Pilela Maposa has also been roped in the technical team. Vasili Manousakis will reunite with Benni McCarthy in Kenya after he left the first division team, the Cape Town Spurs. The duo worked together at AmaZulu FC in Durban. The quartet has signed two-year deals in Kenya, the FKF confirmed. Mohammed believes that McCarthy is the perfect replacement for Engin Firat, who resigned late last year. "We had a long list of coaches who were interested, but when we looked at what he brings to the table, we were convinced it was the right decision," Mohammed said. Meanwhile, McCarthy and his technical team are expected to do well when Kenya co-hosts the 2027 TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) with neighbours Uganda and Tanzania.