"I am not a magician,"under pressure Harambee Stars coach Benni McCarthy pleads for patience
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Reading Time: 2min | Tue. 10.06.25. | 14:10
McCarthy is yet to register his first win since landing the Stars job in March
Harambee Stars head coach Benni McCarthy has urged fans to remain patient, emphasizing his focus on long-term team development rather than instant results.
The South African, now three games into his tenure, is yet to secure a victory.
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Stars drew with The Gambia and fell to Gabon in World Cup qualifiers played in March, followed by a barren draw against Chad in a friendly match held in Morocco on Saturday.
The stalemate against the lower-ranked Chad sparked frustration among some fans, who expressed their disappointment on social media, targeting McCarthy and his coaching staff, with some questioning whether he is the right man for the job.
Speaking ahead of the return leg against Chad in Marrakech, Morocco, McCarthy stressed the need for time to build a cohesive squad.
"The fans have to understand that Rome was not built in a day. I was not going to come in and perform magic and suddenly have a castle. No, I am not going to wave a wand and have the perfect squad,” he said.
McCarthy defended the performance against Chad, noting that the squad, primarily composed of locally based players, is still adapting to the demands of international competition, with many experiencing this level for the first time.
“I have to get to know these players, assess their quality, and understand what they are capable of at the international level—because they are not playing for Leopards, Tusker, or Gor Mahia anymore. They are representing the national team on the international stage," he added.
He emphasized that the priority in these friendly matches is to develop a squad for the African Nations Championship (CHAN), rather than focusing solely on victories.
These are friendly matches. I am trying to build a squad for CHAN, and we are using this opportunity to assess the players at our disposal. Yes, I want to win, of course. But if you do not know the players—and they’ve only been here for a couple of days—you can not expect them to win five or six-nil. It does not work like that,” he added.
McCarthy reiterated the need for patience, explaining that the players require time to gel and adapt to the rigors of international football.
“They need time to get used to each other and adjust to the demands of international football. This is an experimental phase as we try to build a solid team."
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