Harambee Stars' Benni McCarthy awarded Coach of the Month title
Kenya's national football team, Harambee Stars, has made history by reaching the quarter-finals of the Africa Cup of Nations for the first time in 38 years. This impressive feat is largely due to the guidance of their head coach, Benni McCarthy.
McCarthy, a South African who led the team to this milestone, was recently named the Betika/SJAK Coach of the Month for August. He beat competition from William Ojal, Geoffrey Omondi, and Jackline Barasa to win the prestigious award.
In the group stages of the Africa Cup of Nations, Harambee Stars stunned two-time champions Morocco 1-0, beat 2016 winners Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Zambia by identical 1-0 margins, and drew 1-1 with Angola. This impressive performance was enough to top a tough group that included Morocco, DRC, Angola, and Zambia.
Under McCarthy's leadership, Harambee Stars made it to the quarter-finals where they faced Madagascar. The match ended in a 1-1 draw in regulation time, but unfortunately, Harambee Stars lost 4-3 in a penalty shootout.
Japheth Akhulia, Head of Marketing at Betika, praised McCarthy's impact on the Harambee Stars. "Benni McCarthy has shown great leadership and has brought a new level of professionalism to the team," Akhulia said. McCarthy himself expressed his gratitude for the award and his hopes for the future of Kenyan football. "There is a lot of talent in Kenya, and I hope to help nurture it," McCarthy said.
The partnership between SJAK and Betika was mentioned as a factor in recognising excellence and nurturing talent in Kenyan football. SJAK President, James Waindi, hailed the partnership. "This partnership has been instrumental in promoting football in Kenya and recognising the hard work and dedication of our coaches," Waindi said.
As a reward for winning the Coach of the Month award, McCarthy received a personalised trophy and Sh100,000 from sponsors Betika. This recognition is well-deserved for McCarthy, who is the third foreign tactician to win the award this year.
It's worth noting that the last time Kenya went past the quarters in a major competition was during the 1987 All Africa Games in Nairobi. McCarthy's achievements with Harambee Stars will undoubtedly inspire a new generation of Kenyan footballers and coaches.
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