Kenya’s Benni McCarthy reacts to criticism after inconsistencies: ‘If you don’t have opportunities, how will you improve?’

South Africa legend Benni McCarthy insists he is not bothered by the criticism from a section of Kenya fans owing to Harambee Stars’ inconsistencies when it matters.

Since taking over as Kenya coach in March 2025, the Bafana Bafana legend has been in charge of six wins, five losses, and three draws across all competitions.

His main achievement was to help the country reach the quarter-final of the 2024 CHAN, the highest achievement ever by Stars. The former Manchester United strikers’ coach has explained his situation in East Africa.

Benni McCarthy respects opinion but…

“Since I’ve taken over, people say this and that. Since I’ve gone there, it’s the most they’ve ever exported Kenyan players going abroad from just working with them since I joined the national team,” McCarthy told iDiski Times.

“So, yeah, I think you’re always going to have people criticising or have something to say. And I think if they don’t, then I’ll be worried. If people don’t talk about me when they don’t criticise, that’s when I’m worried. Because then you’re definitely doing something wrong, because if everybody’s just saying, ‘oh, I’m good, good, good’, something’s probably not right.

“But you respect people’s opinion, but they don’t know what you’re facing and what you have. Because if their league was as strong as the PSL, and you have these kinds of players to select from, then yeah. But they are limited.

“So, what do you do when you have a team for a week? And for the CHAN, I was able to work with the players for a month. So, I had them in camp for a month, and then we played the CHAN tournament,” he added.

Benni McCarthy explains challenges

“I think the national team was above average. We were in the toughest group of the tournament, and we went to a quarter-final where they’d never, ever been before,” the 48-year-old added.

“And that was just because we were able to get three, four weeks of training sessions. We could instil tactical discipline, and we were able to do a lot of things, and that’s why we were able to have some success during the CHAN.

“And then, of course, you’re hoping that you’re going to have the same ability to have players for longer periods. And have longer camps so that you can organise a structure, a way of play and a style. But okay, the way we play, that’s definitely like Coach Benni’s style. Because that is what he likes to do and that.

“But if you don’t have opportunities to work on that, how are you going to improve?” Benni concluded.