Latest news with #HarambeeStars
BBC News
4 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
Stadium security in Kenya a concern as CHAN looms
The Swahili word 'pamoja', meaning together, has been used to describe Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda hosting the African Nations Championship (CHAN), but the neighbours are not in sync when it comes to their level of preparedness for the finals in is set to be the first time a continental competition is co-hosted by three countries, yet the tournament for domestic-based players has already been postponed once because works on infrastructure and facilities had not been top Confederation of African Football (Caf) official says Kenya is "90%" ready, but has warned progress must continue and that stadium safety and security issues need addressing."Uganda we can play yesterday, Tanzania we can play tomorrow, Kenya we can play tomorrow," Caf general secretary Veron Mosengo-Omba told BBC Sport Africa on a visit to Nairobi on Wednesday."In Kenya I have seen training pitches ready, changing rooms ready, stadium seats put in place."They have to keep the momentum."If they stop momentum, we don't want CHAN to be here." Stadium safety Crowd control during big matches in Kenya has been an area of concern in recent March fans forced their way into the Nyayo National Stadium during Kenya's 2026 Fifa World Cup qualifier against Gabon by breaking a incident came during what was the Harambee Stars' first game on home soil in almost two admits that while such a lapse after a long absence of hosting international football is "understandable", it is "not acceptable".With the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) also set to be co-hosted by Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda, Caf is already taking measures to ensure security standards are met for CHAN."We've launched courses to train policemen, because the way that you manage security in the crowd in the stadium and outside the stadium are different," Mosengo-Omba added."So we train the police how to maintain safety security in stadium and we also train members of federation in order to improve the security."We will continue until the end of CHAN and Afcon." Infrastructure works Kenya will use two multi-purpose venues in Nairobi for CHAN; the 60,000-capacity Kasarani Stadium and the 22,000-seater Nyayo National to the country's local organising committee chief executive Mike Rabar, it is the latter that has concerned Caf the most."The biggest infrastructural set-backs so far are things like the perimeter wall in Nyayo, which should be ready by end of this month," Rabar told BBC Sport Africa."That is why Caf is not 100% giving us go ahead. There are small things."Entrances around the stadium have to be contained with turnstile infrastructure to make sure the traffic is managed in a way that flows in an organised manner."These are things that Caf is adamant about - safe security of the fans."Regarding the Kenya-Gabon game in March, where e-ticketing had been used and sales had ended a day before the game, Rabar said organisers "did well" in some elements."Of course there was infringement from weak infrastructure around the stadium," he added."Those are the spaces we want to focus on."Caf president Patrice Motsepe, who toured East Africa to check progress on CHAN preparations in December, will be expected to visit the region again trip will serve as a crucial deadline for the three host their part, Kenya's local organising committee is eager to be ready by the end of June."What is pending are small things like [computer] connectivity, power issues, communications," Rabar."Caf has set very high standards for us so we are trying to see how do we meet these standards and make sure that by the time we get to the first week of July we can host a game comfortably."Meanwhile, sports ministers from the three host nations have affirmed their commitment to hosting a successful tournament with a budget of $ for a 'Pamoja visa' to facilitate entry and movement are ongoing, and the three countries are also working on providing tax exemptions for equipment brought into their territories.
The South African
13-05-2025
- Sport
- The South African
No Benni McCarthy to Orlando Pirates
Orlando Pirates supporters campaigning for McCarthy will be disappointed. Following reports claiming that McCarthy may be heading to Orlando Pirates to replace Jose Riveiro next season, a source in Kenya, where McCarthy is the national team's coach, has said the South African legend is going nowhere. 'The links of Benni McCarthy going to Orlando Pirates, that's just rumours,' a source told Soccer Laduma. 'I was with Benni yesterday, and he is very, very happy in Kenya. 'These rumours about him leaving Harambee Stars have been circulating and they started in South Africa, not Kenya. He is happy and not leaving Harambee Stars. 'We met after the U20 Kenya team arrived from Egypt and Benni was assessing their performance. Benni is committed to Kenya,' the source concluded. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
CAF
30-03-2025
- Sport
- CAF
McCarthy switches focus to TotalEnergies CAF CHAN preparations
After his first two matches in charge, newly appointed Kenya head coach Benni McCarthy has switched his attention to preparations for the TotalEnergies Africa Nations Championship 2024 (CHAN). McCarthy was recently named Kenya's head coach and had his first two matches in charge with the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against The Gambia and Gabon. Though it was baptism by fire as he had very few days to prepare, McCarthy says he has picked lots of positives from the experience and is looking forward to improving the team further. 'We had only three training sessions with the entire team and we all saw how the team plays. That should tell you something. I think everyone should be very much afraid of the kind of team we are building now. If we have more time, more training sessions and more scouting, then we will have a really great team,' McCarthy said. Kenya drew 3-3 with Gambia, a thrilling comeback result in Cote d'Ivoire, and narrowly 2-1 to Gabon at the Nyayo National Stadium in Nairobi. With the next round of World Cup qualifiers set for September, the South African legend's immediate attention will now be shifted to the TotalEnergies CAF CHAN, which will be co-hosted by Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania in August this year. McCarthy says his focus is to build a strong team over the next few months. 'I haven't watched many local games because I came in and immediately had to focus on the World Cup qualifiers. I had to rely a lot on the coaches who are there. But now, we have time between now and August. I will move around the country to try and see as many players as possible. I am also hoping that we can organize small camps in between with some selected players so that we get to build a team early enough,' the coach said. He added; 'We have to put up a very strong Harambee Stars side because we are hosting this tournament, and we can't be there just to participate. We have to work to get out of the group stages and into the knockout rounds and that means, we need to get a very strong team.' Debutants Kenya have been drawn into a very tough Group A that has former champions Morocco and DR Congo as well as Angola and Zambia who have both reached the semi-final before.
CAF
19-03-2025
- Sport
- CAF
Kenya seeking to make push for World Cup history
Published: Wednesday, 19 March 2025 Kenya's captain Michael Olunga believes the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification for the Harambee Stars remains open, as they charge towards the next two rounds of fixtures this coming week. Kenya is placed fourth in Group F with five points, five behind leaders Ivory Coast. They play Gambia away in Abidjan this Thursday, before welcoming Gabon at home on Sunday, their first home fixture in four years. A win in both matches can take them as high up as second if, the other results go their way, and it is with this in mind that Olunga has charged his teammates to give 100 percent to seek for back to back wins. 'We are looking forward to the next two fixtures which will be very tough but I believe the group is still open. We are facing Gambia away which will be a tough match. Gambia has emerged as one of the strong teams in Africa and we know it is not going to be an easy match,' Olunga said, as the team departed for Abidjan. He added; 'We then have a home game against Gabon which will be equally tough but we are motivated for that because it is our first home game in four years and we would want to give our home fans a good performance.' Gambia is coached by Irishman Jonathan McKinstry, who spent two years with Kenyan champions Gor Mahia and led them to the FKF Premier League title before he departed. The Kenyan scene is one he knows too well, and Olunga believes that will be a factor when the two sides clash. However, the captain, who plays his club football in Qatar with Al Duhail, says the team is psyched up for a positive start under new coach Benni McCarthy who was just recently appointed. The South African tactician has had less than two weeks to assemble a squad, and has only trained for three days with a group of locally based players. 'Everyone is looking forward to the first assignment of the year with a new coach and we hope we will have a positive start. We have to be patient with the team because the dynamics are now different as we have to adapt to a new style of play but I am really confident of what this young Kenyan team can do,' Olunga added. McCarthy, in his speech after being appointed coach, also reiterated that Kenya still has a good chance of qualification for the World Cup, and said they will give a good push in the remaining matches.
BBC News
03-03-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
New Kenya boss McCarthy targets World Cup qualification
Benni McCarthy has said Kenya can "surprise a lot of people" by qualifying for the 2026 World Cup after the being appointed as the country's new head South African has signed a two-year deal that will see him lead the Harambee Stars up to the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations - a tournament which will be held on home soil in East Africa, with Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda 47, replaces interim coach Francis Kimanzi, who has been in charge since Turkish coach Engin Firat stepped down at the end of last first games will be this month's World Cup qualifiers away in The Gambia and at home against Gabon."Participating in the World Cup, it is one of the most special feelings in the world and I want to give them that," McCarthy told BBC Sport Africa."With the right mindset and dedication from the players, and the willingness to learn and willingness to give everything they've got for the course, I think we can surprise a lot of people by still qualifying for the World Cup."Kenya are currently fourth out of six teams in Group F with five points from four games – five points behind leaders Ivory the group winners qualify automatically for the tournament in Canada, Mexico and the USA. The four best runners-up from the nine groups will have a second chance via the who is South Africa's all-time record goalscorer, represented his nation at the 1998 and 2002 World Cups, but Kenya have never qualified for the competition. Working with Mourinho and Ten Hag McCarthy is among the most recognisable names in African football, having carved out a successful playing career in won Dutch league and cup titles with Ajax before repeating the trick in Portugal with Jose Mourinho's Porto, also adding the 2004 Champions League title to his trophy former striker then spent five years in the Premier League with Blackburn Rovers and West Ham before finishing his playing days back in South Africa with Orlando began his coaching career as an assistant with Belgian club Sint-Truiden before taking charge of both Cape Town City and AmaZulu in his recently, he was part of Erik ten Hag's backroom team at Manchester United."I was given an incredible opportunity to go work with one of the biggest and best clubs in the world," he said of his time at Old Trafford."I just felt the time was right now for me to go on and do what I love most, and that's to be manager and to help players grow."When this opportunity (to coach Kenya) came, I thought where better to give back to the continent that's given me everything?" 'An exceptional serial winner' As recently as 2022, Kenya were suspended from international football after the country's sports ministry disbanded the national football federation (FKF) over alleged misappropriation of following recent elections, the FKF is operating under a new administration - one which includes former Inter Milan midfielder McDonald Mariga as its vice appointment is a sign of intent from the organisation, which is set to act as co-host for this year's delayed African Nations Championship (CHAN), Africa's international competition for homegrown who will also lead that team, is promising Kenyans a "hard-working" philosophy, having described himself as "an exceptional serial winner" who "hates losing"."For me, it's about giving the fans, the true Kenyan, an identity," he explained."Kenyan people are known as hard workers, they're known for being loyal – and that's the kind of national team I want to give them."So players that work under me must also have that same hunger, that same desire, that same passion, like you die when you put on that Kenyan shirt."Because people must be proud of you when you walk off that field."
