New Harambee Stars coach Benni McCarthy is set to take home a decent monthly salary after accepting the daunting task of steering the Kenya national men's team out of a footballing rut.
McCarthy, a former Manchester United first-team coach, was officially unveiled as the new Harambee Stars tactician in an upbeat ceremony at the Serena Hotel on Monday, March 3, as he signed a two-year deal to coach the national team until after the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations.
Kenyans.co.ke has since learnt from a source within the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) that McCarthy will be taking in a modest salary in the region of 17,000 USD (KSh 2.2 million) per month, excluding bonuses.
This is a far cry from his past earnings, particularly at Manchester United, where he used to make £40,500 (approximately KSh 6.6 million) per week, translating to £162,000 (around KSh 26.5 million) monthly.
This figure, however, could be higher, depending on the particulars of McCarthy's contract with the Football Kenya Federation (FKF). Typically, bonuses vary depending on a federation's policies and contractual agreements, but one certainty in this situation is that the South African tactician is set for a huge payout if he can turn Harambee Stars' fortunes around.
For example, McCarthy could be in line for a bonus if he leads the Stars to a considerably higher ranking in the FIFA World Rankings. Similarly, the coach could also earn hefty bonuses if he guides the national team to the latter stages of continental competitions, including the upcoming championships in August.
During the unveiling, FKF boss Hussein Mohamed was asked about McCarthy's key performance indicators (KPIs), but he remained coy about revealing exactly what was expected of the new coach. Instead, Mohamed stated that the Federation had both short- and long-term targets for the new tactician.
On his part, McCarthy outlined his targets, admitting that he had one eye on ensuring Kenya puts up a strong performance at the upcoming African Nations Championship (CHAN), which the country will co-host with its East African neighbours.
"We want to win every point available to us," McCarthy said. "It's not easy, but it's also not impossible. We have to adopt a positive mindset. Players must see that the coaches being brought in are ones who want to win."
He added, "For CHAN, we want to showcase ourselves. We want to make Kenyan people proud that we are hosting. Kenyans need to see Harambee Stars in the latter stages of the tournament. With hard work, it is possible."
The 47-year-old boasts a wealth of experience, having previously managed AmaZulu in South Africa's top tier.
However, his most high-profile stint was his recent role at Manchester United, where he worked alongside Dutchman Erik ten Hag as the strikers’ coach.
McCarthy and his coaching staff, comprising Vasili Manousakis as Assistant Coach, Moeneeb Josephs as Goalkeepers’ Coach, and Pilela Maposa as Performance Analyst, will immediately take charge of the national team as they prepare for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Gambia and Gabon, set for March 17 and March 24, respectively.
His immediate task will be to guide Harambee Stars to a promising position in World Cup qualifying. Kenya currently sits fourth in Group F, with only five points from four matches, trailing leaders Ivory Coast by five points.
