Kenya national team head coach Benni McCarthy has expressed his willingness to assist Kenyan players in gaining entry into top European football leagues, mentioning one English Premier League team he can reach out to at any time.
The former AmaZulu and Cape Town City mentor was appointed as the head coach of the Harambee Stars at the start of March this year. He brought along a complete South African coaching staff to aid him in his role.
McCarthy had just a few days to work with his new players before they faced Gambia and Gabon in the 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers during the March international break.
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As he continues to acclimate in the Eastern African nation, the 47-year-old coach appears to believe that several players in Kenya have the potential to compete in top European leagues.
McCarthy, who won the UEFA Champions League title with FC Porto and played for several teams in Europe as well as coached Manchester United, is confident in his ability to facilitate Kenyan players moving abroad.
"First, we need to settle in,” McCarthy said per Nairobiwire.com.
"Once we do, if there are players who deserve a chance at top clubs, it’ll be easy to pick up the phone and call, say, Nottingham Forest.
"Nuno is one of my close friends from Porto, and it would cost me nothing to call him and say, ‘I’ve got a player here; maybe have a look at him.
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"What I’ve seen here in Kenya is that many players are eager to go to Europe. They are not afraid of stepping out of their comfort zone because they believe they can make it in Europe,” added the fomer Orlando Pirates striker.
"When you talk to players in the national team, they have great aspirations. That is my type of player. How can you not be excited about players with those kinds of ambitions, because for you to get to Europe, you have to have success in your national team?."
