C
Citizen Reporter
Guest
doctype html>
By Cameron Iseme
National menโs football head coach Benni McCarthy has admitted that the road to the 2026 FIFA World Cup remains steep, but urged Harambee Stars to keep believing as they prepare to host Gambia in a crucial qualifier at Kasarani on Friday.
Speaking during Thursdayโs press conference, McCarthy acknowledged the difficulty of the task ahead.
โWe remain hopeful but itโs mission impossible,โ said the South African coach.
He added that the national team project goes beyond this campaign, pointing to the upcoming CECAFA tournament and the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) as key milestones.
โCHAN came earlier than expected into my job, but itโs an opportunity. For AFCON 2027, we want to aim high and go far in the tournamentโฆthis generation deserves to see a successful national team. I know itโs dreams, but you have to dream big,โ McCarthy stated.
Harambee Stars captain Michael Olunga reinforced his coachโs optimism, praising the belief theyโve gotten since McCarthyโs arrival.
โThe coach has instilled a lot of confidence in the squad. We are ready to show the country that we are prepared to fight,โ said Olunga who is currently turning out for Qatari side Al-Arabi.
McCarthyโs opposite number John McKinstry reflected on his past ties with Kenyan football, having previously managed Gor Mahia, and spoke about the prospect of returning as an opposing manager.
โI have an insight of the environmentโฆin the preparations we were able to do things that maybe we canโt normally do for away games.โ
He also underlined the difficulties his team has faced, with the Scorpions unable to host matches at home due to infrastructure challenges, but maintained a positive tone.
โIf weโre doing what weโre doing now with five percent, imagine what we can do when we get to fifty sixty seventy percentโ, stressing the importance of everyone involved from players to the federation to keep working so they can keep rising.โ
The Northern Irish coach is returning to familiar ground, having guided Gor Mahia to back-to-back Kenyan Premier League titles.
Both teams held lively training sessions later in the day, sharpening their tactical approaches ahead of a game that could significantly shape their respective campaigns.
For Kenya, the focus will be on translating belief into results on home soil, while the Gambia seek to overcome the hurdles of life on the road.
The first leg ended in a tense 1-1 draw, setting the stage for a winner-takes-all showdown. With World Cup dreams on the line, Harambee Stars are rallying for massive home support to tip the balance in their favour.
ยฉCitizen Digital, Kenya
Continue reading...
- He added that the national team project goes beyond this campaign, pointing to the upcoming CECAFA tournament and the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) as key milestones.
By Cameron Iseme
National menโs football head coach Benni McCarthy has admitted that the road to the 2026 FIFA World Cup remains steep, but urged Harambee Stars to keep believing as they prepare to host Gambia in a crucial qualifier at Kasarani on Friday.
Speaking during Thursdayโs press conference, McCarthy acknowledged the difficulty of the task ahead.
โWe remain hopeful but itโs mission impossible,โ said the South African coach.
He added that the national team project goes beyond this campaign, pointing to the upcoming CECAFA tournament and the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) as key milestones.
โCHAN came earlier than expected into my job, but itโs an opportunity. For AFCON 2027, we want to aim high and go far in the tournamentโฆthis generation deserves to see a successful national team. I know itโs dreams, but you have to dream big,โ McCarthy stated.
Harambee Stars captain Michael Olunga reinforced his coachโs optimism, praising the belief theyโve gotten since McCarthyโs arrival.
โThe coach has instilled a lot of confidence in the squad. We are ready to show the country that we are prepared to fight,โ said Olunga who is currently turning out for Qatari side Al-Arabi.
McCarthyโs opposite number John McKinstry reflected on his past ties with Kenyan football, having previously managed Gor Mahia, and spoke about the prospect of returning as an opposing manager.
โI have an insight of the environmentโฆin the preparations we were able to do things that maybe we canโt normally do for away games.โ
He also underlined the difficulties his team has faced, with the Scorpions unable to host matches at home due to infrastructure challenges, but maintained a positive tone.
โIf weโre doing what weโre doing now with five percent, imagine what we can do when we get to fifty sixty seventy percentโ, stressing the importance of everyone involved from players to the federation to keep working so they can keep rising.โ
The Northern Irish coach is returning to familiar ground, having guided Gor Mahia to back-to-back Kenyan Premier League titles.
Both teams held lively training sessions later in the day, sharpening their tactical approaches ahead of a game that could significantly shape their respective campaigns.
For Kenya, the focus will be on translating belief into results on home soil, while the Gambia seek to overcome the hurdles of life on the road.
The first leg ended in a tense 1-1 draw, setting the stage for a winner-takes-all showdown. With World Cup dreams on the line, Harambee Stars are rallying for massive home support to tip the balance in their favour.
ยฉCitizen Digital, Kenya
Continue reading...
