Greg . 2 days ago

Benni McCarthy reveals headache for Kenya ahead of DR Congo CHAN opener

Kenya national team lead coach Benni McCarthy has openly come out to reveal the headache he is facing with only two days remaining before they start their African Nations Championship (CHAN) campaign on home soil.

Harambee Stars, who will be making their debut in the CHAN tournament, have been drawn in Group A alongside Morocco, Angola, DR Congo, and Zambia, and will kick off their campaign against DR Congo at Kasarani Stadium on Sunday.

'The headache now lies on me'The South African legend has admitted that he is confronted with the headache of picking the starting XI for the opening fixture.

“I think we still have two more days to try and figure out the starting XI because preparations since we came support from Tanzania have been really good, we couldn’t complain over the training facilities, you know, everything is up to good standards,” McCarthy told Betopick.

“We obtained the most out of what we needed, so yeah, I think come Sunday, the team will be ready, but the headache now lies on me, and other coaches on selecting our first eleven, and I would rather those kinds of headaches than nothing else.

But the team is ready, suit and healthy.

”Requested how big the headache was, and whether he was under pressure heading into the opener, McCarthy responded: “My headache is as big as a watermelon, it is very big because I think everyone has worked really hard to be in the team, and I think it will be a little snapped unfair that you can only pick 11 players to start the match.

“Those are FIFA rules, CAF rules, the rules of football, you have to field 11 players, so I estimate you are not going to be able to make everybody happy, because so far everyone has given me total respect, and the hard work, and anything that you can request from a player as a coach and they have all given me all that.

“And it now up to me to select 11 players out of the whole group, it is a really tough job but I estimate that is why they pay us the money they do to make those kind of decisions, and disappoint some players, that may not be fielded, you know they acquire not to be on the bench, they should start the match.

Kenya coach Benni McCarthyFKF Media“So come Sunday, myself and the technical team will make the right decisions because this nation needs a team that can move out there and battle for it, and hand over the best football that they can and then hopefully, be superior and better than our opponents, but we will have to wait and see.

”DR Congo game 'extremely important'On what he wants to accomplish from the DR Congo fixture, McCarthy said: “I think whether it is CHAN or World Cup qualifier, or any major tournament, you have three four matches maximum, and the importance of how good you start always sets you up nicely, so yes, the first game is extremely important, but it is not the terminate of the world.

“Argentina for example, during the World Cup in Qatar, they lost the first match to Saudi Arabia which was very crucial, a game which they didn’t want to lose, but they terminated up losing the match, and then they moved on to win the World Cup, so you know it is not the terminate of the world if your first game is a disaster.

”He concluded: “But in our case, hopefully, I am confident the boys will be ready to offer the best kind of performances that the Kenyan faithful acquire, so we will strive to make it one of the best matches of the tournament.

“Like I said, we are in the Group of Death and if we obtain a good result against DR Congo, who have previously won this tournament, and they know what it is all over, then it will offer us belief ahead of the next matches against Morocco, Angola, and Zambia.

”AuthorBetopickPursue the African Nations Championship with Betopick.