Benni McCarthy expressed his disappointment at not delivering results that Kenyan fans could celebrate, despite their enthusiastic support in filling Nyayo Stadium to capacity for the match against Gabon.
In a post-match interview, McCarthy said, “Thank you, Kenyans, for filling the stadium! You made us fall in love with football again. I’ll ensure a strong bond between the players and the fans!”
The former Manchester United first team coach highlighted that his time with the team has been limited, preventing him from making significant changes.
“They (Gabon) have been together longer. I have only been here for a short while. There is so much you would like to change, but you’re never going to get to where you want to be in just one week with the team,” he explained.
Despite his limited time with the players, the football community has noticed significant progress, which helped mobilize the masses to support the team. Kenya’s impressive performance away against The Gambia encouraged fans to come out in large numbers for this match.
“We are grateful for the support we received. The Kenyan people came out to support us. It was the most memorable experience. Even during my playing days in Europe, I believe this is what Africa should be all about,” expressed McCarthy.
Harambee Stars created numerous scoring opportunities but failed to convert them, with Michael Olunga hitting the bar. He did, however, score from a tap-in following an Erick Ouma cross, which turned out to be Kenya’s consolation goal in the 2-1 defeat.
“It was a beautiful game, but unfortunately, we couldn’t give the fans the joy of a victory to celebrate. However, we promise that we will improve. We will get better, and they will have a team they can be proud of,” McCarthy summarized.
After the match, the technical bench and players took a victory lap around the stadium, appreciating the fans for their support. The fans reciprocated by applauding the team’s efforts.
