Cloned - Will Benni take Kenya to the World Cup?

The Kenyan national team has a new leader in the form of former Bafana Bafana striker and more recently, first-team coach for Manchester United, Benni McCarthy.

He takes over after spending a few months on the line, with many believing he might be back to take over a big club in South Africa.

Benni's new role was unveiled by the Kenyan Football Association earlier this week and this is where it became weird. The presenter raised the question early: "Will you be taking the Kenyan team to the World Cup."

He confidently answered yes, and how could he not with the amount of talent Kenya has in the team. Benni said he would take the Kenyan team to the next World Cup, but they have not even managed to get into the Africa Cup of Nations.

This move comes after his departure from Manchester United at the end of last season, where he focused on strikers under former manager Erik ten Hag. He worked closely with the likes of Marcus Rashford, Alejandro Garnacho, Amad Diallo and even the legendary GOAT himself, Christiano Ronaldo.

Benni will be joined by Vasili Manousakis (assistant coach), Moeneeb Josephs (goalkeeping coach) and Pilela Maposa (performance analyst) when they start their journey to make the World Cup next year.

The new coaching staff jumps straight into action as they prep for the World Cup qualifying clashes against Gambia and Gabon later this month.

They missed out on qualification for the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) in Morocco and are sitting fourth in their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying group, with five points from four matches.

But GoalMouth has raised the point, if you are earning R1.5m per month, I bet you would say Robben Island will also make a World Cup.

Benni does not need the cash, but it's been said that he chose this position over a move to Major League Soccer as he was reportedly linked to a few teams in America.

He admitted that a number of clubs were after him and fought for his signature, but eventually, he chose Kenya, referring to them as a "sleeping giant".

Were you sleeping when you said that Benni? Maybe they should wake you up.

Kenya has really not been doing well over the last few years and if you could not make things work at Amazulu as head coach and then at a huge club like Manchester United, what makes you think you change things for a struggling Kenya?

I have struggled to understand why Benni would accept such a post, not considering building on his experience or heading to the US to work with some amazingly gifted footballers.

I also thought the idea of earning dollars would lure him to the US, but the Kenyan shilling was shining brighter; I just hope the players would shine too and help him look like a bright coach.

Let's not get carried away, I do think and believe Benni is a good coach, I just don't believe taking over a struggling team with limited resources can lead to making the World Cup. 

It's like getting into a car, putting on a blindfold and telling the passengers, please pray that we arrive safely. 

Nevertheless, if Benni turns this around and places Kenya on the map, I would be willing to accept that I was wrong, but I stick to my guns like GoalMouth has stuck to all his bold statements.

Had Kenya not offered R1.5m per month, Benni would easily have been in Los Angeles, chilling on a beach, signing a huge MLS deal.

You have heard GoalMouth's version of events, now let the man speak himself.

"I thought it would be a perfect opportunity because it is not just a chance for me to become a coach but a national team coach and hopefully, achieve something no other coach has achieved for this national team," Benni told the media on Monday in Kenya.

DISCLAIMER: These are the views of GoalMOUTH, if you don’t like them, great, I’d like to hear why.

So step into my goal and don’t mind to watch your mouth.

Email your thoughts to tauriq.hassen@acm.co.za