Benni McCarthy, the new Harambee Stars coach, is set to earn a respectable monthly wage after accepting the onerous task of leading Kenya’s national men’s team out of a football rut.
McCarthy, a former Manchester United first-team coach, was officially introduced as the new Harambee Stars tactician on Monday, March 3, at a celebratory ceremony at the Serena Hotel.
He signed a two-year contract to coach the national team till after the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations.
According to a source within the Football Kenya Federation (FKF), McCarthy will receive a modest salary of around 17,000 USD (KSh 2.2 million) each month, minus bonuses.
This is a far cry from his previous wages, particularly at Manchester United, where he used to earn £40,500 (about KSh 6.6 million) every week, equivalent to £162,000 (roughly KSh 26.5 million) per month.
This number, however, may be greater based on the terms of McCarthy’s contract with the Football Kenya Federation (FKF).
Bonuses typically differ according to a federation’s policies and contractual agreements. However, one thing is certain in this situation, the South African mastermind will be paid handsomely if he can turn Harambee Stars’ fortunes around.
McCarthy, for example, may be eligible for a bonus if he leads the Stars to a higher FIFA World Ranking position.
Similarly, the coach might earn bonuses if he leads the national team to the final stages of continental contests, like as the next championships in August.
During the unveiling, FKF chairman Hussein Mohamed was queried about McCarthy’s key performance indicators (KPIs), but he declined to specify exactly what was expected of the new coach.
Instead, Mohamed noted that the Federation had short- and long-term goals for the new strategist.
McCarthy detailed his goals, stating that he was focused on securing Kenya’s great performance at the African Nations Championship (CHAN), which the country will co-host with its East African neighbours.
“We want to win every point available to us. It’s not easy, but it’s also not impossible. We have to adopt a positive mindset. Players must see that the coaches being brought in are ones who want to win,” McCarthy said.
He added, “For CHAN, we want to showcase ourselves. We want to make Kenyan people proud that we are hosting. Kenyans need to see Harambee Stars in the latter stages of the tournament. With hard work, it is possible.”
The 47-year-old brings plenty of experience, having previously managed AmaZulu in South Africa’s top division. His most recent high-profile position was as the strikers’ coach at Manchester United, where he collaborated with Dutchman Erik ten Hag.
McCarthy, with Vasili Manousakis as Assistant Coach, Moeneeb Josephs as Goalkeepers’ Coach, and Pilela Maposa as Performance Analyst, will take over as National Team Coach immediately.
They will prepare for the forthcoming World Cup qualifiers against Gambia and Gabon, which are scheduled for March 17 and March 24, respectively.
His immediate task will be to lead the Harambee Stars to a promising World Cup qualification position.
Kenya is currently fourth in Group F, with only five points from four matches, trailing leaders Ivory Coast by five points.
