Harambee Stars head coach Benni McCarthy has defended Kenya’s dramatic withdrawal from the CECAFA Four Nations Tournament, blaming substandard playing and training facilities in Karatu, Tanzania. Meanwhile, Junior Starlets coach Mildred Cheche has been selected for the FIFA Coach Mentorship Programme, becoming the first Kenyan woman to join the prestigious initiative.
McCarthy said the decision to exit the CECAFA mini-tournament, just hours before Kenya’s first match, was made in the best interest of the team’s readiness for the upcoming 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN).
“The training facilities we were assigned in Tanzania were simply not up to standard,” McCarthy explained.
“Continuing could have exposed key players to injury risks just before CHAN. Returning home was the best possible decision.”
The team had travelled to Karatu and was ready to face hosts Tanzania, but poor pitch conditions and inadequate equipment led McCarthy and his technical bench to abort the mission.
The move drew criticism from the Council for East and Central Africa Football Associations (CECAFA), which termed the withdrawal as “regrettable.” In a statement, CECAFA claimed that all concerns raised by Football Kenya Federation (FKF) had already been resolved ahead of kickoff.
“It is unfortunate that the decision came on 21st July, when all reasonable concerns raised by FKF had been addressed earlier by CECAFA, just hours before kick-off,” the regional body said.
Despite the backlash, McCarthy stood by his call.
“We didn’t want to end up making excuses if we fail to progress past the group stages of CHAN. This decision gives us the best chance to prepare properly,” he said.
Kenya is set to host the CHAN 2024 tournament and will play their Group A opener on August 3 at Kasarani Stadium. They are drawn alongside DR Congo, Angola, Morocco, and Zambia—widely considered the “Group of Death.”
Mildred Cheche Earns FIFA Nod
In a more uplifting development for Kenyan football, Junior Starlets head coach Mildred Cheche has been selected to join the FIFA Coach Mentorship Programme in Zurich, Switzerland. Cheche is among only 20 promising female coaches chosen globally for the 18-month initiative.
The programme pairs young coaches with top-tier mentors, and Cheche will be mentored by South Africa’s Desiree Ellis—the 2022 CAF Women’s Coach of the Year and head of Banyana Banyana.
“This is a life-changing opportunity,” Cheche said.
“It will significantly boost my tactical and professional knowledge and help shape the future of women’s football in Kenya.”
The initiative by FIFA aims to build coaching capacity among women and promote gender equity in football management globally. Cheche’s selection is a boost not only for her career but also for the women’s game in Kenya, which continues to grow despite limited resources.
