Benni McCarthy: I’m glad I never coached suspended goalie Matasi

Harambee Stars coach Benni McCarthy is relieved that his path never crossed with suspended goalkeeper Patrick Matasi, stressing that he doesn’t condone match-fixing.

At the same time, the 47-year-old former Manchester United first forwards’ coach has said that Kenyan footballers are more ambitious than those from his native South Africa.

He has also urged the locally-based Kenyan footballers to give their all in their remaining league matches if they hope to earn a slot in his squad for the delayed 2024 Africa Nations Championship (Chan) that Kenya will co-host with Uganda and Tanzania from August 2 to 30.

Nineteen teams will take part in the upcoming competition. McCarthy spoke on NTV’s Monday live sports show – SportOn.

“There is no place for people like that in our sport and I am glad I never got to cross paths with this player and he never got to play for me as well, so good luck to him,” said McCarthy when asked about his reaction on Matasi getting in trouble over match fixing allegations.

He continued: “For me, I have no sympathy, whatever punishment comes, and I hope the authorities are going after the people that got this player to do that to begin with because we do not need these kinds of people in our sport…I am just glad I wasn’t the coach who played this goalkeeper.”

On March 27, Football Kenya Federation (FKF) provisionally suspended the Kakamega Homeboyz goalkeeper for 90 days pending an investigation into the matter.

This was after a video surfaced online of a person alleged to be the 37-year-old goalkeeper receiving instructions on match-fixing from an unseen individual.

FKF has requested assistance from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations and the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission in investigating the matter.

However, Kakamega Homeboyz chairman Cleophas Shimanyula told Nation Sport on March 27 that Matasi denied being the person captured in the video that went viral.

“When the first video emerged at night, I sent it to him, and he responded that he knew nothing about it. I shared the second part with him, but he said it wasn't him in the video. He is shocked by the videos,” said Shimanyula then.

Matasi has often faced scrutiny over numerous questionable errors both at the club and national team levels.

In being confident of turning around Harambee Stars' fortunes, McCarthy said he is encouraged by the immense talent in Kenya as well as the determination and ambition of the players, noting that these qualities are lacking in South Africa.

“In South Africa, players are exceptionally talented. They got what it takes but they are happy to stay in South Africa, they don’t want to move because they are in the comfort zone and I think for me that is just you underselling yourself because to be able to be the best, you have to play against the best,” said the former striker, who played for several clubs in Europe including Porto, Ajax, Westham United and Celta Vigo.

“What I have experienced here in Kenya, there are so many players going abroad to Europe, so they are not afraid to step out of their comfort zone…how can I not get excited about players of those kinds of beliefs and ambitions?”

Through his wide network of contacts, McCarthy, who is South Africa’s all-time top-scorer with 31 goals, said he is open to helping Kenyan players secure opportunities abroad once the team has settled.

The UEFA Champions League winner said Kenya’s target in Chan is to lift the trophy.

As part of plans to assemble a strong squad for the competition, the coach said that in addition to attending some league matches, they also plan, through FKF’s facilitation, to visit clubs' training sessions to identify players. Those who impress, he said, will be invited to mini-camps for further assessments.

“I hope from now until the end of the season, the players will push to make an impression so that you can be part of that final squad that represents Kenya at Chan,” said the former Cape Town City coach.

“I hope Kenyan players are ready for what is going to come their way because we are going to work extremely hard, but at the end of the day, the goal is to win Chan,” he added. Chan is a biennial tournament reserved for locally based players.