On Tuesday, March 11th, the 47-year-old South African unveiled a squad featuring a mix of experienced players and promising young talents, as the team started preparations for their upcoming two pivotal World Cup qualifying fixtures against Gambia and Gabon.
McCarthy, who took over the vacant role after replacing Engin Firat, got the opportunity to watch the players first-hand on Wednesday, March 12th. However, Gor Mahia and Tusker players missed the training session as they have been given permission to prepare for FKF Premier League matches scheduled for Saturday and Sunday.
McCarthy impressed by Harambee Stars' quality
Speaking after the rigorous training session, McCarthy could not hide what he had seen admitting the quality on show was superb and further said it will go a long way to benefit the East African nation in their quest to be a force to reckon with.
“It was a good experience for some of the young players (that we called up), and it was just to showcase what they have, and it was also nice for me to get to know them a little bit better and for them to get to know me, how I like to work and the intensities and just what top-flight international football is all about,” McCarthy told Flashscore.
“So, yes, it was good and I thought they did very well for the first time, the first day in training, they acquitted themselves very well, adapted to what I wanted as well. So it was nice to see that there is some decent good quality in there, which surprised me but it’s always a benefit for the country and even for the team.
“It was just for me to also have a look at the players because I wasn’t fortunate enough to watch a lot of matches. I’ve only been to one match so far since I joined, I didn’t have a wider variety of knowledge, to know who and what players we have.
"So I had to kind of rely on the intel of coach Francis (Kimanzi), and some of the coaches that have been part and parcel of the team before, so I had to rely on them on certain players that I asked about and also video analysis, when you watch videos, games and then you kind see.”
The 47-year-old McCarthy - who most recently worked as part of Erik ten Hag’s coaching team at Manchester United further explained why the first training session was important in his plans to take Kenyan football to the next level.
“It was not ideal but I just had to because of the time that I came in wasn’t enough, so yeah I was able to add extra players for me to also have a look at them individually, personally and yeah, I am glad I did it because maybe I could have missed a hidden agenda, so it was nice," offered McCarthy.
"First day like I said, everyone’s nervous with each other, they don’t know me, I don’t know them, so yeah, it was the first day out, so far so good.
“It was just about the players we called up, together with this lot now, so yes, I am expecting that I am going to have about 17 to 18 players, for now, because Gor Mahia and Tusker have communicated with the federation to ask if they can give the players a pass since they have important league match on Friday and Saturday.”
First priority is Gambia and Gabon
According to McCarthy, his main focus is on the two upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Gambia and Gabon.
The former Porto player will begin his reign in charge of Harambee Stars against the Scorpions of Gambia on Thursday, March 20th at Alassane Ouattara Ebimpe Olympic Stadium in Ivory Coast before they return home to host the Panthers of Gabon on Sunday, March 23rd at Nyayo Stadium.
“We going to work extremely hard to get this team ready and right, so that they can be proud of the players when they put on the Kenyan shirt. I think we are going to build a team that is hard working, that’s fighting, that’s trying to play good football but most importantly, we want to give them (Kenyans), a team that wants to win football matches,” explained McCarthy.
“Our first priority is the Gambia game, Gambia match on March 20th for the World Cup qualification. That is our first priority, so hopefully we can get a team ready and to go out there and fight and just bring proud to the Kenyan nation, and then we can build on from there to Gabon and then hopefully we’re on a good path, on a good way to fulfil the ultimate dream and that’s you know salvage the group stages and hopefully that you can catch Ivory Coast at number one.”
He continued: “It is going to be hard work but I think the talent and the quality that the team have speaks for itself so you know it’s just a matter of time when you get it right and things go perfect and then I think everybody will be proud of the team that they will support, that will represent them as Kenyans, so that is what me, and my technical team and the coaches here, that’s is what we want to bring to this country.
“We want to bring a football team that people will be proud of.”
Under Firat, Kenya kicked off their qualification campaign with a 2-1 defeat against Gabon, beat Seychelles 5-0, drew 1-1 with Burundi before registering a 1-1 draw against the African champions.
Harambee Stars are currently placed fourth in the six-team Group F with five points, five less than table leaders Ivory Coast. Gabon are second with nine points, Burundi third with seven points, Gambia fifth with three points while Seychelles remain at the bottom with zero points.
