Benni McCarthy’s Harambee Stars Exit Reports Persist with Another South African Giant Set to Sack Coach

Harambee Stars coach Benni McCarthy’s future in Kenya has become a subject of speculation again following reports that he may cut short his stint for a big job back home.

McCarthy was last month rumoured to be among candidates for the soon-to-be vacant Orlando Pirates coaching job with Spanish coach Jose Riveiro set to end his three-year reign at the conclusion of this season.

While those reports have died down, even though Pirates are yet to announce a new coach, McCarthy is now being reported to be on the radar of another South African giant.

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Reports in South Africa on Sunday claimed that Kaizer Chiefs, the country’s most popular and most successful club, are due to sack veteran Tunisia tactician Nasreddine Nabi despite the former Yanga coach ending their 10-year trophy drought.

Chiefs beat Pirates 2-1 to win the Nedbank Cup final on Saturday, bringing a trophy to their long-suffering fans, who last witnessed their club lift one in 2015.

However, according to South African outlet Sunday Times, that has done little to change the club management’s mind as they have been left disappointed by his stint, having struggled to produce good results with Chiefs in ninth position in the league.

The Glamour Boys have been so disappointing in the league and are currently on a seven-match winless run in South Africa’s top flight, leaving them in danger of missing out on the top eight for a second straight season.

This is not what the Chiefs bosses expected when Nabi was hired as he arrived with a big reputation, having just missed the title in Morocco with AS FAR by one point, lost a cup final, while he led Tanzanian giants Yanga to back-to-back league titles as well as the CAF Confederation Cup final.

Chiefs are therefore reported to be keen to cut ties with Nabi after just one season and want a tactician who understands South African football, embraces attacking football and promotes young talent.

All these are boxes that McCarthy ticks given his stints with both Cape Town City and AmaZulu, who he took to great heights during his time as head coach.

African Soccer Updates also claim McCarthy could cut short his spell with Harambee Stars to take a big job in his country, which further points to the Pirates and now Chiefs links.

It is not certain, however, if McCarthy will agree to take another job, two months into his new role in Kenya or whether Chiefs or Pirates will be willing to pay a hefty compensation to Football Kenya Federation to release him from his contract.

What is also not certain is whether McCarthy has an exit clause in his contract that allows him to leave if a big job is offered to him elsewhere as it happens with most coaches around the world.