Benni McCarthy Changes Tune on Integrating CHAN 2024 Heroes into Harambee Stars’ Senior Team

Harambee Stars coach Benni McCarthy is now convinced that his squad of local-based players is ready to make the leap into the international stage.

McCarthy has put together an exciting squad that has seen Kenya make it to the quarter-final of the 2024 African Nations Championships (CHAN 2024) with a match to spare after staying unbeaten in a group that few gave them a chance.

With the tournament reserved for players only featuring in their local leagues, the Harambee Stars squad is made up purely of local-based players and the tactician is happy with what he has seen so far.

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“My squad has evolved during this tournament. I have gone to watch them play and you saw there was raw talent, there was potential and we have gotten together as a group, we have grown strong and built a good bond,” McCarthy told the media on Saturday.

“I have seen them grow and if I am honest, my team is good enough now to move into international stage. Because everything that you need from a player they are showing. Every single day, the willingness to learn, to improve, they work hard, every single day in training, I see players getting better and better.

“As a coach, there is nothing more pleasing that seeing your players every single day. I know the international stage is demanding and tough and competitive. You play not just against local but internationals that have gone abroad and played at the highest level.”

So improved is the team that McCarthy has now changed his earlier stance that they were not ready for international assignments such as the World Cup and Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.

The South African coach had said earlier in the tournament that the CHAN 2024 squad still needs time before they can make the jump or dislodge foreign-based players but from what he has seen so now, he is convinced that they can hack it when thrown into the deep end.

“I think this team is ready but we also do have a good crop of players playing international so it could be a shame not to bring your strongest possible squad together but from this squad, there is a good healthy lot that I will take onto the international scene because I think they have proven themselves,” he added.

“They have the capacity to grow and become better and the more you throw them in the shark tank, the more they get out of it, so they can handle themselves and should be proud that they have taken the chances they have been given.”

Harambee Stars take on Zambia in their final group stage match on Sunday and McCarthy will hope to see further improvements as he sets his sights in the semi-finals now that a quarter-final ticket is assured.