The news of Harambee Stars getting a new high-profile coach has started to gather pace again with an appointment expected imminently.
The men's national team has been without a coach since early December when Engin Firat resigned. Francis Kimanzi was roped in on an interim basis.
Source: Twitter
The former Mathare United coach was in charge of the team at the Mapinduzi Cup in Zanzibar. The tournament was expected to prepare Harambee Stars for the Africa Nations Championships (CHAN) which was initially supposed to take place this month.
CHAN, which will be hosted by Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania, was pushed to August giving the Football Kenya Federation more time to finalise the process of getting a coach.
"FKF is looking for a substantive coach and a competent technical bench to achieve our objectives. It is an ongoing process, which is why the current technical bench was appointed on an interim basis," said FKF President Hussein Mohamed in a past interview.
Benni McCarthy has remained the overwhelming favourite to succeed Firat. Kenyan football guru and enthusiast Kevin Teya has confirmed that McCarthy will arrive in the country on Wednesday ahead of his official unveiling on Friday.
The former Manchester United forwards' coach will arrive just in time ahead of the first international break of the year.
Harambee Stars are set to face Gambia away on March 19 before hosting Gabon four days later in the race to qualify for the 2026 World Cup. Kenya is lagging behind in Group F with reigning African champions Ivory Coast on top with 10 points after four games played.
Source: Instagram
Gabon have nine points, two ahead of Burundi with seven points. Kenya is fourth with five points. Only one team is assured of a place in the tournament that will be held by the United States, Mexico and Canada.
has previously given a breakdown of McCarthy's profile. As already mentioned, his last role was at Manchester United where he trained the strikers under former coach Erik ten Hag.
The South African international had coached Premier League Soccer teams Cape Town City and Amazulu before joining the Red Devils.
As a player, he most notably won the 2004 Champions League with Porto under Jose Mourinho.
had also earlier reported that Victor Wanyama returned to Tottenham last weekend.
The former Harambee Stars captain was among the guests when the North London club hosted Manchester United in a Premier League clash.
Wanyama played for Spurs for four years and reached the 2019 Champions League final against Liverpool.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
