Months Without Pay, but Not Without Purpose: McCarthy’s Kenya Confession Ahead of Bafana Showdown
Benni McCarthy is about to face his own country in the biggest week of his coaching career, and he has not been paid for months.
The South African arrives in Kenya to prepare for two titanic AFCON qualifiers against Bafana Bafana, with an unusual confession on his lips. He says he and his technical staff are still waiting for their salaries.
McCarthy explained that the players’ payments have only trickled in, and only after pressure forced the federation to act. The Harambee Stars players threatened to boycott the games in the last FIFA window.
“When we went to play Guinea, payments came in dribs and drabs and players were eventually paid their allowances because the pressure was put on the federation. The minister also came good.
“But the coach and technical staff, still nothing,” explained the former Bafana Bafana star and all-time leading goal scorer.
Even so, the former Manchester United technical team member is not walking away. He says he wants to leave Kenyan football in a better state than he found it, and that CAF and FIFA will be called in if the situation is not resolved.
“My job is to go there and help Kenya. I want to leave Kenya better than when I found it. I will strive for that, and eventually things will come good.
“If no payment is made, CAF and FIFA will get involved in this situation.”
His message is one of professionalism, not protest.
“We are professional enough. When we go there we do our jobs. After matches we can fight for whatever it is that we are fighting for,” he added.
“But while we are there, we have a duty to make those players better and leave that country in a far better state football-wise than they were in.”
McCarthy believes the results prove his work is paying off.
“So far we are head and shoulders above where we found Kenyan football when we came in. I think we have achieved something because when we came, I didn’t even know Kenyan football.
“But I took the job, and now that I am in the job, it is rewarding the progress I see,” he said.
For a man who has not been paid, he speaks like someone who intends to stay a