Harambee Stars coach Benni McCarthy on Wednesday asserted that he was fully in charge of the team, amidst reports of a rift in the camp.
Last week, several football pundits took to social media to claim that the coach had been forced to eject a number of players who had arrived at training camp without his invitation or approval.
McCarthy admitted to having heard about the stories and called on the people making the claims to come forward and name the players involved.
“Kindly give me names and back it up with facts so that I know who came to my squad without my knowledge. Every player has been here for two weeks except Felix Oluoch, who impressed when we played a combined team and was a standout player,” said the 48-year-old South African coach.
“As a technical team, what Oluoch showed in the friendly game was enough to convince us that he can join the team. I’m very professional, and if there is anybody claiming so, let him back it up with evidence. I’m fully in charge of this squad,” added McCarthy.
He said that he was free to add or remove players from his squad at the training camp if he felt it was necessary.
Harambee Stars head coach Benni McCarthy during the team's training session at Nyayo National Stadium on July 23, 2025
Photo credit: Chris Omollo | Nation Media Group
McCarthy spoke at Nyayo National Stadium during Harambee Stars' first training session after returning to the country on Monday following their withdrawal from the Cecafa Four Nations tournament in Arusha.
The tactician said he would not be affected by sideshows and was happy with the progress of the team in training ahead of the 19-nation tournament that kicks off on August 2.
“We are working on fitness and mass training sessions where my players can play for 90 and even extra time. I’m pleased with everything on fitness, and we are hitting over 500km in distance covered so far,” said McCarthy.
He revealed that he has drafted international Masoud Juma, a former player of Kariobangi Sharks.
“He is back in Kenya, signed with a local team and is eligible to play since he is registered with the league.
“I have known him since we were at an international camp, and I signed him to play in the South African league.
Harambee Stars players during a training session at Nyayo National Stadium in Nairobi on July 23, 2025.
Photo credit: Chris Omollo | Nation Media Group
“I have spoken to him, I know his quality, he has a lot of experience, and if his style is as good as what we have seen, I will draft him into the final team. He is from an international team to a local club, thus he can play,” said McCarthy.
But McCarthy did not reveal which club Juma had joined. Nation Sport could not verify if the player had signed up for a Kenyan outfit.
Kenya Police forward Mohamed Bajabeer , who has been training alone as he recovers from injury, is expected to join his teammates.
On the prematurely ended Tanzanian tour, McCarthy said he was not satisfied with the quality of the pitch and couldn’t risk his players’ health.
“The conditions were not favourable to us, we could have got more injuries and for safety reasons, the wellbeing of the players, we decided not to play and so came back,” he said.
Shabana teen Austin Odongo, Gor Mahia duo of Alphonce Omija and Austin Odhiambo echoed McCarthy's sentiments, saying the training sessions have been superb and it was all systems go to shine in Chan.
There are currently 28 players in the Harambee Stars’ camp. The final 23 men to do duty at Chan will be chosen by the end of this week, McCarthy said.
