Harambee Stars coach Benni McCarthy has said the 30-man preliminary squad he has selected for the delayed 2024 Africa Nations Championship (CHAN) is equal to the task.
At the same time, Sports Cabinet Secretary Salim Mvurya has said Kenya is ready to co-host the tournament with Uganda and Tanzania from August 2 to 30.
Chan Africa’s second-tier national team football tournament reserved for players plying their trade in their domestic leagues.
Kenya will host its Group ‘A’ matches at the newly refurbished Moi International Sports Center, Kasarani from August 3.
Harambee Stars will open their campaign in Group ‘A’ of the tournament against 2016 winners Democratic Republic of Congo on August 3, before playing 2018 and 2020 champions Morocco, Angola, and Zambia.
McCarthy, 47 said he is confident the players he has selected will carry the national flag high on home soil. He dismissed naysayers who have been lamenting that he left some key players out of the squad.
“I’m not here to please anyone, and you can’t please everyone. I’m here to be successful in this country,” the South African coach said.
“The players we have selected are those I have in camp and you can’t select everyone. They have the quality I need and can take this country to the highest level of the competition, including the final,” he added.
The former Manchester United player was speaking at the Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani (MISC), on the first day of Harambee Stars residential camp.
Also present were Sports Cabinet Secretary Salim Mvurya, Principal Secretary Elijah Mwangi, Football Kenya Federation President Hussein Mohamed, among other government and sports administrators.
On July 3, coach McCarthy named a 30-man provisional squad for the competition which is only reserved for local players.
“We are ready for Chan, and we will do everything to ensure we make our fans happy. For now, the focus is on ensuring that we prepare well for the tournaments,” he added.
Harambee Stars squad entered training camp on Monday, and are expected to travel to Tanzania next week to compete in Cecafa Four Nations Cup from July 24-27 in Arusha, Tanzania.
Kenya will face Tanzania on July 24 at Kiratu Stadium from 4pm. The match will be preceded by a 1pm, kick-off between Uganda and South Sudan at the same venue. Winners will meet in the final on July 27, while losers will play in third place play-off before Stars return home to play in Chan tournament.
Sports CS Mvurya said the government is ready to offer all the necessary support to the team, including funding. Mvurya said the focus has now shifted from Chan sporting infrastructure to the national team. The government has since handed the Moi International Sports Centre Kasarani to the Local Chan Organising Committee.
“This team reflects the face of Kenya and what we are now focusing on is ensuring that they have everything they need in the camp to succeed. As government, we have issued a travel advisory for the Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) to ease movement of Caf officials and guests during the tournament,” said Mvurya.
Police Sacco Stadium, Ulinzi Sports Complex, Kirigiti Stadium in Kiambu and the Kasarani Sports Annex which are training grounds for the tournament will be handed over to Chan Local Organising Committee on Wednesday.
Mvurya urged Kenyans to turnout in numbers to support the national team, saying Kenya will release more information, including logistics on e-ticketing and security arrangements, as the competition nears.
Mvurya also said the government will announce cash awards for players to motivate then to do well in the competition.
